Three-fourths of recruiters and hiring managers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) as part of their hiring process to filter resumes before conducting job interviews. This guide explains how to use an ATS resume checker to see if your document is optimized and provides examples of ATS-friendly resume formats.
What Is an ATS Resume Checker and Why You Need One
Applicant tracking systems help recruiters and hiring managers by scanning candidates’ resumes and filtering them by the best match. An ATS-compliant resume is essential for standing out among applicants, as applicant tracking systems prioritize resumes that include relevant resume keywords from the job description. Passing the applicant tracking systems filter is a critical step to ensure your resume gets in front of a hiring manager, increasing your chances of advancing to job interviews.
An ATS resume checker is a program or app that scans your resume to determine whether it is optimized for ATS. An ATS resume scanner can also provide suggestions on potential changes to your resume to improve the chances of recruiters seeing it.
Key Features of an ATS-Friendly Resume
1. Simple and clean ATS resume format
An ATS-friendly resume should have a simple layout. Avoiding overly complex designs ensures your resume remains ATS-compliant and accessible to applicant tracking systems, which can misread decorative elements. These can be more difficult for ATS systems to interpret and parse, which could mean your resume doesn’t make it to the hiring manager even if you’re qualified.
2. Keyword optimization
Applicant tracking system scanners check your resume for ATS compatibility by looking for job-relevant resume keywords. Your skills and experience sections should use as much language as possible from the job description without overstuffing keywords.
3. Using standard section headers
An ATS-friendly resume uses clear section headers that describe the content that follows. Section headers like “Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills” ensure your resume remains ATS-compliant, making it easier for resume checkers to analyze the document for compatibility.
4. Avoiding tables, images, and graphs
While visual elements may make your resume stand out, they can hurt you with ATS for resumes. These systems may struggle with graphics, images, icons, or tables, so it’s best to avoid them and stick to plain text.
5. Choosing an ATS-friendly font
When creating an ATS-friendly resume, choose a clean, ATS-compatible font, such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri.
How To Use an ATS Resume Checker
Step 1: Upload your resume
Before using a resume checker, choose a resume template that aligns with the job you’re applying for, as this helps ensure that your resume includes the right structure and sections for recognition by the applicant tracking system. Then upload your resume into the Resume Builder resume checker tool to identify formatting and ATS-compliance issues.
Step 2: Analyze the results
After the resume checker evaluates your resume, review the results. The analysis will check for keyword matching, section formatting, overall readability, and other ATS-compliant standards. The tool will also assess whether your resume is optimized for specific job descriptions by identifying relevant industry-specific terms and important keywords.
Step 3: Make adjustments based on feedback
After the analysis, the Resume Builder resume checker tool will provide tailored feedback. This could include suggestions for adding specific keywords, optimizing section headings, or improving the overall structure to ensure your resume is easily read by applicant tracking systems. Implement these recommendations to improve your resume’s chances of passing through ATS filters and increase your chances of landing a job interview.
Top Tips To Optimize Your Resume for ATS Compatibility
1. Match keywords from the job description
An ATS resume template can help you save time, but you still need to customize it. Using the exact resume keywords found in the job listing increases your documents chances of passing through an applicant tracking system. Identify the most important keywords by looking at the job description duties and must-have qualifications. Use as many of these as possible throughout your resume.
2. Focus on relevant skills and certifications
Listing certifications and relevant skills that align with the role can increase your resume’s ATS compatibility. Skills should be on a separate list; accreditation can be in its own section or with your other academic credentials.
3. Use active, descriptive language
Descriptive language paired with ATS-compliant formatting ensures your resume performs well with applicant tracking systems and impresses recruiters. Try to use each action verb only once to ensure your language is varied and specific.
Common Mistakes To Avoid With ATS Resume Templates
- Overloading keywords: While using relevant resume keywords is important, overloading them can impact readability and make your resume feel unnatural to both applicant tracking systems and hiring managers.
- Using non-standard fonts and styles: Decorative fonts and extra graphics aren’t suitable for an ATS resume format. Instead, stick to plain text, a traditional font, and simple formatting tools like bolding and italics.
- Leaving out essential sections: An ATS resume format includes all the standard resume sections, such as contact info, experience, and education. Labeling each of these ensures the ATS reads it correctly.
ATS Resume Template Suggestions
Simple ATS-compliant resume example
Allison Rosenberg, MBA
San Diego, CA 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]
Profile
Senior operations executive with over 10 years of advancement and experience. Skilled at guiding large-scale organizations to new levels of efficiency and performance in competitive markets. Adapt readily to new workforce challenges and industry conditions. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
Career Highlights
Chief Operating Officer (COO), YCW Corp., San Diego, CA | October 2017 to Present
- Guided a cost reduction initiative that raised the company’s bottom line by $700,000 in six months
- Built productive partnerships with senior leaders of five central departments
- Drove five successful change initiatives to create a more inventive and collaborative work culture
Director of Operations, MFW Advertising, San Diego, CA | August 2012 to September 2017
- Collaborated with human resources (HR) on a hiring initiative to place 15 new operations managers
- Established a cross-department communication structure that increased efficiency by 25%
Prior Experience
- Advanced steadily through a series of progressive operations roles at TKQ Manufacturing.
Education
University of California, San Diego, CA
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Bachelor of Science (BS)
Language
- Fluency in Spanish
Key Skills
- Business needs assessment
- Change leadership
- Continuous improvement
- Cost reduction and elimination
- Cross-functional leadership
- Organizational alignment
- Policy and procedure development
- Process redesign and improvement
- Productivity and efficiency gains
- Profit and loss (P&L) management
- Six Sigma methodology
- Strategic business planning
- Talent acquisition
- Targeted resource allocation
Jane Sampson
San Francisco, CA 94101 | (555) 123-4567 | [email protected]
[LinkedIn Profile URL]
Profile
Accomplished Operations Manager with over 8 years of experience in streamlining processes, leading cross-functional teams, and driving operational efficiency in the manufacturing and logistics sectors. Expertise in process improvement, cost reduction, and team leadership. Proven ability to implement strategic initiatives that enhance productivity and align operations with business objectives. Adept at managing large-scale projects and ensuring seamless day-to-day operations. Seeking to leverage experience and expertise to contribute to the success of a growing organization.
Key Skills
- Process Optimization
- Lean Manufacturing
- Supply Chain Management
- Project Management (Agile, Scrum)
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Budget & Resource Management
- Vendor Management
- Change Management
- Continuous Improvement
- Risk Management
- SAP, Oracle, MS Project
- Staff Development & Training
- Cost Reduction Strategies
- Performance Metrics & KPIs
Work Experience
Operations Manager
XYZ Logistics, San Francisco, CA | January 2018 – Present
- Streamlined inventory management processes, reducing stockouts by 30% and improving product availability by 25%.
- Led a team of 15 employees, focusing on process optimization and cross-department collaboration to reduce operational costs by 20%.
- Coordinated with supply chain teams to implement new software solutions, improving reporting accuracy and increasing operational efficiency by 18%.
- Developed and monitored key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational efficiency, leading to a 12% increase in productivity over a one-year period.
- Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts that resulted in a 15% cost reduction for raw materials.
Operations Coordinator
ABC Manufacturing, San Francisco, CA | June 2014 – December 2017
- Supervised day-to-day operations in a manufacturing facility, ensuring all departments were aligned with production goals.
- Implemented Lean Manufacturing techniques, reducing waste by 22% and improving production flow.
- Collaborated with HR to hire and train new employees, improving team performance and employee retention by 10%.
- Monitored production schedules and inventory levels, ensuring timely fulfillment of orders and improving delivery times by 20%.
- Facilitated cross-functional meetings to resolve process inefficiencies, enhancing communication between departments.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
University of California, Berkeley, CA | Graduated May 2014
Certifications
- Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
- PMP (Project Management Professional) Certification
- SAP Certified Application Associate
Sample keywords by industry
Including industry-specific resume keywords improves your document’s ranking with applicant tracking systems and prepares it for successful submission.
Business
- Change management
- Client relations and retention
- Coaching and mentoring
- Performance management
- Project and program management
- Reporting and documentation
- Revenue and profit growth
- Strategic business planning
- Succession planning
- Targeted resource allocation
- Team leadership and motivation
Finance
- Asset management
- Business data analysis
- Cost reduction
- Internal and external audits
- Portfolio management
- Portfolio rebalancing
- Profit growth
- Regulatory compliance
- Risk management
Marketing
- Client engagement
- Consultative sales strategies
- Data gathering and analysis
- Market strategy development
- New market penetration
- Product promotions
- Revenue and profit growth
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Social media marketing
- Team collaboration
Health care
- Medical documentation
- Medication administration
- Patient and family relations
- Patient-centered care
- Process streamlining
- Task prioritization
- Team collaboration
- Vital signs monitoring
Frequently Asked Questions About Resume ATS Checkers
What is an ATS-friendly resume?-
An ATS-compliant resume uses targeted industry-specific keywords, making it optimized for applicant tracking systems and more likely to reach recruiters for potential job interviews.
How can I test my resume for compatibility with ATS?+
Using a resume checker lets you confirm whether your document meets ATS-compliant standards and provides feedback for improvement. These ATS checkers scan your resume to confirm that it is formatted correctly and customized, and provide feedback on how you can change your document to help it score higher.
Do all companies use resume ATS scanners?+
While not all companies rely on applicant tracking systems, most large companies with multiple open roles and hundreds of candidates applying use this technology. Tailoring your resume to be ATS-compliant and running your document through an ATS checker before submitting gives you the best chance of submitting a resume that is ATS-compliant and gets a human review.
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