The Truth About Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

If you’ve ever applied for a job online, chances are your resume was first read by software — not a human. Here's what ATS really does, how it works, and what you can do to make sure your resume passes the test.

1. What is an ATS?

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It’s a type of software used by recruiters and companies to collect, scan, and rank resumes before they’re ever seen by a person. It's designed to save time — but it can also filter you out unfairly.

2. How ATS Works Behind the Scenes

ATS software parses the text in your resume and compares it to the job description. It looks for keyword matches, titles, and formats. It can struggle with graphics, tables, and columns, which means your design choices matter more than you think.

3. Common Mistakes That Trigger ATS Rejection

Using a two-column layout, fancy fonts, or image-based resumes can confuse the parser. So can uploading a resume in the wrong file format (PDF is usually safe, but DOCX is safest).

4. How to Optimize Your Resume for ATS

Stick to a clean, single-column layout with clear section headings. Use standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman. And most importantly — include keywords from the job description naturally throughout your resume.

5. Myth: ATS Software Is Always Bad

ATS isn’t the enemy. It’s a gatekeeper. And if your resume is optimized, it can actually help surface your application faster. Many recruiters rely on ATS to stay organized — not to block good candidates.

Final Thoughts

Beating the ATS is not about gaming the system — it’s about understanding how it works and tailoring your resume with care. We’ve helped hundreds of clients get through the filter and into interviews — and we can do the same for you.