How To Write an ATS Resume (With Template and Tips)

How To Write an ATS Resume – Here’s the cold, hard truth: the vast majority of job applicants never land on a real person’s desk.

And not entirely because the recruiter doesn’t care! Honestly, the reality is more often than not, they are simply inundated with applications and are using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to weed through the process of selection.

ATS systems are not ‘evil’ robots. They are simply performing their function: keyword search, filtering resumes by requirements, or formatting resumes and cover letters incorrectly. The recruiters understand that this method of tracking submissions is causing job seekers to feel rejected, with no legs to stand on.

That’s exactly why developing and writing an ATS-friendly resume is no longer an option – it’s a necessity.

But the good news is, getting past the ATS is not that scary!

In this guide, we will provide you with all the information you will need to get your resume out of the digital white noise and into the hands of a recruiter.

Mastering Modern Recruitment: Your Guide to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

• Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): What are they and how do they work?
• Optimizing Your Resume for ATS: A 7-step guide to creating an ATS-friendly resume.
• ATS Resume Templates: Explore 16+ templates designed for 2025.
• Boosting Your Visibility: Expert tips to increase your chances of being noticed by recruiters.

What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

Let me break an ATS down simply. 

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a type of software that helps primary recruiters and hiring managers manage the massive influx of job applications. It’s like having a digital bouncer—it compiles, organizes, and filters resumes before they can even be seen by a human. 

Here is how it works – How To Write an ATS Resume

When you click submit on your job application, this is where the ATS kicks in. The ATS looks for keywords, skills, and qualifications from your resume and cover letter that match the job description. If your resume meets the right conditions, it gets ranked higher, but if it does not, your resume may never get to the recruiter’s desk you were hoping for.

That’s not just a theory, either—more than 70% of resumes are rejected due to ATS software, way before a human is even engaged. 

So you see why writing an ATS resume is no longer a nice-to-have but a must-have. Everything from the formatting, wording, and even the type of file you use can make or break an opportunity. 

But don’t worry— Top Rank Listed help you get it right.

Why Do So Many Companies Use ATS?

Feeling frustrated that your resume is being scanned by software before a human even sees it might make it seem unfair. But the reality is, employers are not trying to be unfair—they are just trying to survive.

In a world of online job boards and one-click job applications, a job posting can easily receive hundreds—if not thousands—of resumes. So for the hiring manager, it is just impossible to personally review every one of them!

That’s where Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) come in.

With an ATS, recruiters can use their time identifying candidates without having to look through piles of resumes, which includes only candidates who are qualified based on the job skills, experience, certifications, etc. And it’s more than just time sync on hiring the right person with less time. As identified by HackerEarth, 95% of HR/Recruiters said ATS improved their overall hiring process.

But there’s more to it – How To Write an ATS Resume

ATS Helps Level the Playing Field

ATS software, unlike humans, evaluates every resume based on the same criteria. This means less room for subconscious bias and more consistency in how candidates are evaluated. It is not perfect-but it’s a move toward fairer hiring.

ATS Also Powers Smarter Decisions

Modern ATS platforms don’t just filter resumes—they provide valuable insights:

• How long does it take to fill a role
• Which job boards bring in the best candidates
• Where bottlenecks exist in the hiring funnel

This data helps companies refine their recruitment strategy with every new hire.

So while it might feel robotic, the goal of ATS is to make hiring faster, fairer, and more informed—for both employers and job seekers.

How Does the ATS Work?

The applicant tracking system (ATS) can be simple or complicated, but all of it works the same way.

It all begins when a company enters a job posting into an ATS. The system then broadcasts that opening out to the company’s website, job boards and websites as designated by the employer.

Once you apply, the ATS will go to work right away. The ATS will scan your resume and parse it into various sections. The ATS will also search your resume for specific keywords and qualifications. Simultaneously, the ATS will automatically see if your background and skills match what the employer is looking for.

To see exactly how this works, let’s take an example.

Account Manager Resume Summary Example

Based on that paragraph, an ATS will extract the following key information:

• Job Title: Account Manager
• Experience: 5+ years of experience
• Core Responsibilities: Tax returns and affairs
• Key Strengths: Employer satisfaction, strong communication skills

Example of ATS Screening Criteria

When evaluating resumes, an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) typically filters candidates based on specific job-related criteria. Here’s a sample breakdown of what might be considered relevant vs. irrelevant for a role like Account Manager:

✅ Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Account Manager
• 5+ years of relevant industry experience
• Strong client relationship management and communication skills
• Demonstrated history of employer satisfaction or positive performance reviews

❌ Not Required for This Role

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting (not relevant to the role)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (considered a basic skill, not a differentiator)

SEO Manager Resume Summary Example

An analytical, data-focused SEO Manager with 5+ years of experience planning and implementing all aspects of SEO strategy. A proven track record for increasing and managing organic traffic, search engine rankings, and qualified leads. Skilled at creating considerable ROI for digital campaigns through technical SEO development, keyword research, and on-page optimization.

Based on that paragraph, an ATS will extract the following key information:

• Job Title: SEO Manager
• Experience:8+ years of experience
• Core Responsibilities: Organic Traffic Growth, Conversion Rate, ROI & Revenue, Page Load Speed
• Key Strengths: Team Leader, Global Client management, strong communication skills

Example of ATS Screening Criteria for SEO Manager

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) evaluate resumes based on how well they align with the job description. Below is a sample of what an ATS might consider relevant or irrelevant for an SEO Manager position:

✅ Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience as an SEO Manager or in a similar digital marketing role
• 3–5+ years of hands-on SEO experience (on-page, off-page, and technical SEO)
• Strong understanding of Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and SEO tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz
• Demonstrated success in improving organic search rankings and website traffic
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to interpret SEO performance metrics

❌ Not Required for This Role

• Graphic design skills (unless specifically mentioned in the job description)
• Experience with paid advertising platforms like Google Ads (not core to SEO)
• Basic Microsoft Office proficiency (assumed knowledge, not a differentiator)

What Is an ATS Resume?

An ATS-friendly resume is a custom-made, tactical document that is fully optimized to effectively pass through a company’s Applicant Tracking System. 

The goal is to communicate your professional information to the ATS software in a way that is simple enough to facilitate a match with the requirements of the role. 

To do this, you must simply output your information while utilizing clear section titles, and most importantly, you have to incorporate the relevant keywords from the job announcement. 

An ATS resume must be reader-friendly for two very different readers: the automated software and the human recruiter who will ultimately read it once it comes through the ATS. 

When you avoid complicated graphics/tables / non-standard fonts, you make it easier for the ATS to properly parse your information, and the recruiter can simply scan your key qualifications without visual distractions.

ATS Resume Example

An effective ATS resume is purposely built to be straightforward and produce readable imports for computerized systems and human hiring managers alike. Here’s what it does well:

• Length: It keeps the details brief, often limiting the information to one page for scanning/reading purposes.
• Format: It is written in a reverse chronological format, prioritizing the most recent and applicable experience above all else (where hiring managers and ATS systems pay close attention).
• Headings: It uses standard label headings (here is where you could get creative) like Work Experience, and Skills, instead of using creative or ambiguous section titles, which means a higher likelihood of accurately parsing the information.
• Relevancy: It populates the work experience and skills section with relevant keywords from the job description, in turn, achieving a match rate.
• Style: An effective resume ignores all forms of complex formatting, graphics, tables, and columns, which can lead to parsing errors. A simple, clean style with standard fonts ensures any qualified system reads the resume the same way a qualified human would.

How to Create an ATS Resume (Step-By-Step)

Use a Resume Template Instead

Let’s face it—starting a resume from scratch can feel pretty daunting. It can take hours of tinkering with margins, messing with fonts, filling it with words, and trying to fit everything onto one page without it looking busy or messy.

But here is the good news: you do not have to go through all this trial and error.

With our free, professionally designed resume templates, you can skip all the formatting anxiety to focus solely on what matters—your experience and skills. Our templates were created with the input of HR professionals around the world to make sure it is clean, modern, and highly formatted for Applicant Tracking Software (ATS).

Simply select a design that matches your industry and personality, and you’ll have your job application done in minutes with our easy-to-use resume builder.

Curious to see the difference? 

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of one of our templates compared to a basic resume done in a basic text editing program:

Adjust the Layout

After deciding on a resume format, the next important step is to consider the layout—and it’s more important than you may think.

A clear, organized layout will let the ATS read your resume accurately and will create a great first impression with hiring managers. If your resume is confusing or poorly laid out, it’s easy for it to get skipped, either by the system or the person reading it.

Here are some simple layout tips to make your resume both ATS-friendly and visually appealing:

✅ Set Your Margins Right

Stick to one-inch margins on all sides. This keeps your resume neat and readable. Wider margins can make it look cramped, while narrower ones might stretch your content awkwardly.

✅ Use Proper Line Spacing

Keep line spacing at 1.0 for regular text and 1.15 after headings or between sections. This improves readability and helps the ATS parse your content correctly.

✅ Choose a Professional Font

Go for fonts that are clean and easy to read—both by humans and machines. Instead of overused options like Times New Roman, try modern, professional fonts like Lora, Roboto, or Calibri.

✅ Adjust Font Sizes

Use 14–16 pt for section headings and 10–12 pt for body text. This creates a clear visual hierarchy and makes your resume easier to scan.

✅ Use Bullet Points

Bullet points are your best friend. They help highlight key achievements and skills, and make it easier for both ATS and recruiters to spot important keywords.

❌ Avoid Graphics

Logos, charts, and images might look nice, but most ATS systems can’t read them. Stick to a text-based layout to ensure your resume gets parsed correctly. Tools like Novorésumé export resumes as text-based PDFs, which are fully compatible with ATS software.

Pick the Right Resume Format

Before you start to build your resume, it’s crucial to pick the right format, as how your resume is organized can affect its performance in an applicant tracking system (ATS).

There are three formats to choose from:

• Reverse-Chronological (the most popular option)
• Functional (skills-based)
• Combination (a little bit of both)

For most people looking for a job, we recommend the reverse-chronological format—which we will get into below:

This format is the most widely used and most anticipated resume format by ATS software and hiring managers. It places the most recent work experience and achievements at the top of your resume, helping recruiters easily and quickly see your career history and relevant experience. 

This organizes your resume in a way that keeps the sections intact, but more importantly, will help with that human reader’s quick readability. It’s clean, simple, but provides the same value, while showcasing your strengths upfront.

Label Your Sections Correctly

Although it may appear to be an inconsequential detail, the titles you give each part of your resume can have a real impact—even on How ATS Works reads and organizes your information.

To be assured of the best chance of being parsed correctly, use plain vanilla, traditional section headings:

• Work Experience
• Skill
• Education
• Certifications
• Contact Information

While you may think that using headings like “My Professional Journey” or “Highlights of my Academic Career” might be fun and creative, it may cause an ATS to misclassify your information. ATS software is programmed to look for certain keywords and section titles. If it can’t find what it expects, it may misportray your information, not to mention entirely drop it.

And this isn’t just a function of compassion on the part of the ATS software. Human beings engage with resumes differently than software, and appreciate pledges to tradition by way of clarity in the form of traditional section titles, because it enhances their chances of locating the information they are engaging with directly related to their recruiting plans for that day.

Tailor Your Resume with Keywords

If there’s one thing that can make or break your resume’s chances of getting seen by a hiring manager, it’s how well you use keywords.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are designed to scan resumes for specific words and phrases that match the job description. These keywords often include skills, qualifications, job titles, and action verbs that reflect what the employer is looking for.

If your resume doesn’t include the right keywords—or if they’re buried in the wrong sections—the ATS might filter you out before a human ever sees your application.

How to Use Keywords Effectively in Your ATS Resume:

• Start with the job description: Read it carefully and highlight key skills, tools, certifications, and responsibilities mentioned.
• Incorporate keywords naturally: Weave them into your resume where they make sense—especially in your summary, work experience, and skills sections.
• Avoid keyword stuffing: Don’t overload your resume with repeated terms. It should still read smoothly and sound like you.
• Balance is key: While optimizing for the ATS is important, remember that a real person will eventually read your resume. Make sure it tells a compelling story about why you’re the right fit for the role.

Using the right keywords is essential—but knowing where to place them is just as important. Here’s how to strategically tailor each section of your resume to boost your chances of passing the ATS and impressing hiring managers:

✅ Resume Summary or Objective

This short paragraph sits at the top of your resume and gives recruiters a quick snapshot of who you are and what you bring to the table.

Tip: Include a few key skills or qualifications that match the job description.

Example: Digital marketer with 5+ years of experience. Seeking to help Company XYZ grow its online presence through strategic social media management.

✅ Work Experience

This is where you should mirror the language of the job ad. Use industry-specific terms and action verbs that reflect your achievements.

Tip: Focus on measurable results and relevant responsibilities.

Example: Led a targeted social media campaign that increased engagement by 23% in just three weeks.

✅ Skills Section

List both hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (interpersonal strengths) that align with the job requirements.

Tip: Use bullet points for clarity and scanability.

Example: Social media marketing, Facebook advertising, budget management, team leadership

✅ Education

Keep this section concise. The ATS typically looks for your degree and major.

• Tip: If you’re a recent graduate, you can include relevant coursework or projects.
• Example: BA in Business Administration
• Relevant coursework: Digital Marketing Strategy, Consumer Behaviour

Stick to One Page

As for resume length, the best advice is this: unless you’re very near the end of your career, limit your resume to a single page—especially if you’re new to your field or applying for mid-level roles.

That said, it’s not that simple.

For now, the good news is that studies show that longer resumes tend to score better with ATS software. Why? Because longer resumes have better chances to hit the right “density” of keywords and, therefore, better their odds of surviving the first parse.

The bad news? Even if your resume passes ATS, it still has to pass an actual hiring manager’s eyes. The average recruiter will take only 6-10 seconds of scanning to determine if your resume is worth pursuing or if they’ll “pass” on you. That’s why the traditional one-page resume has always been, and will continue to be, the best option.

The one-page resume forces you to think about your best and most applicable qualifications and distil them to make your case in the best ways possible—both for your ATS and the person reviewing it.

Choose the Appropriate File Type

Once you have a final version of your resume, the last step is to export it in the proper file format—and this step is more important than you think. 

For most job applications, it’s safest and smartest to export your resume as a PDF. PDFs will hold formatting, look professional, and are accepted by nearly every modern ATS. PDFs also open consistently on every device and software, so the employer will see your resume—just as you intended.  

But, here’s the exception…   

Some older ATS users truly struggle reading PDF files. If the company you’re applying to has outdated software, your resume may not get parsed correctly.  

Here is how to avoid this:  

1. Read the job post closely. If there is an encouraged or required file format (. DOC, .DOCX), then follow the instructions exactly.  
2. If the job is silent on the format, PDF is the best choice that you can rely on for both ATS and human readers.  

By selecting the right file type, you will have confirmation that your resume looked great, got scanned correctly, and got into the hiring manager’s hands without issue.  

Include a Cover Letter

If you want to be influential in a highly selective job market, here’s a trick that is sure to help you gain attention – always submit a job application containing a cover letter along with your résumé – even if the job description says a cover letter isn’t necessary.

Why a cover letter? Because submitting a cover letter, besides a résumé, shows you’re proactive, you care, and you’re willing to take time to make a better “first impression” on the hiring manager. All of this can set you apart from candidates who only submit a résumé.

In addition, you can include keywords from the job description that will make your cover letter more ATS-friendly. A cover letter will make your application more ATS “meat” and less ATS “death.”

Now that you have created your resume, tailored it to the job description, and have it ready to go, there is one final step that can give you a major advantage—run an ATS score check.

Here is the process:

• You will upload your resume and the job ad into ChatGPT.
• You will request an ATS compatibility review.

ChatGPT will review both, assess your ATS score based on the job description, and provide recommended improvements such as missing keywords, formatting changes, or better expressions.

Example:

We trialled this on a nanny’s resume compared to a relevant job ad. ChatGPT flagged several missing keywords, such as “child development” and “meal preparation,” and recommended rephrasing her achievements to better match the job description. Making these small adjustments significantly improved this resume’s ATS score.

Can you give my resume an approximate ATS score for the job I’m applying to?

ChatGPT can quickly identify what your resume might be missing. Once you apply its feedback, you’ll be fully optimized and ready to pass the ATS with confidence!

ATS Resume Templates for 2025

Forget the hassle of margins, fonts, and layout changes. Pick one of our professionally created templates below that is already ATS-friendly and ready to impress hiring managers. Choose the look and feel that matches your industry and personal style, and have your resume ready in no time!

General Resume Template

A flexible, all-purpose layout suitable for most industries. Ideal for job seekers with a straightforward career path and standard qualifications.

Tech Resume Template

Designed for IT professionals, developers, and engineers. Highlights technical skills, certifications, and project experience in a format optimized for ATS.

Functional Resume Template

Focuses on skills and strengths rather than chronological work history. Best for career changers, freelancers, or those with employment gaps.

Simple Resume Template

Minimal formatting with a clean structure. Easy to read and ATS-friendly—perfect for entry-level roles or conservative industries.

Executive Resume Template

Tailored for senior-level professionals. Emphasizes leadership, strategic impact, and high-level achievements with a polished, professional design.

Traditional Resume Template

Classic layout with clearly defined sections. Ideal for formal industries like law, education, or government, where a conventional presentation is preferred.

FAQs on ATS Resumes

What does “ATS” mean in a resume?

ATS is short for Applicant Tracking System. ATS is software used by employers to scan, filter and rank resumes using keywords and formatting conventions.

How do I add ATS to my resume?

How To Write an ATS Resume – You don’t “add” ATS to your resume; you optimize your resume for ATS using standard resume formatting, relevant keywords, and clear section titles.

What is a good ATS score on a resume?

A score of 75 or greater will generally be considered good, suggesting that your resume is a strong match for the specific job description.

How do I convert my CV into ATS format?

Use a simple layout, standard fonts, headings, and have no graphics. Then, maximise the keywords looked for in the job ad.

How do I know if my CV is ATS-friendly?

You can see if your CV has standard formatting, keywords that relate to that job, and if you have headings for “Work Experience” and “Skills”. Some tools can be used, or even ask ChatGPT if your CV is ATS-friendly.

Can ChatGPT make an ATS-friendly resume?

Yes! ChatGPT can help create, format and optimize your resume based on the job description to be ATS-compatible.

Is 75 a good ATS score?

Yes, a score of 75+ indicates that your resume matches the job listing, and it will likely make a passing score through the ATS filters.

Does ATS recognize AI?

ATS doesn’t recognize whether the text is AI-generated. It looks for structure, keywords, and matches with the job listing.

Can ATS flag resume lies?

No, ATS doesn’t flag if something is a lie, but they might note inconsistencies during the interview or during a background check.