How applicant tracking systems read your resume

Most employers in the U.S. collect applications through an applicant tracking system (ATS). CareerOneStop, the U.S. Department of Labor’s career site, describes what these systems do: receive applications, sort them in the order received, and track each candidate’s status. An ATS can be set to filter out resumes missing essential criteria, like a required credential or a specific software skill. CareerOneStop also notes that ranking features exist but are rarely used, and that after processing, a person reviews the resumes that meet the minimum qualifications. (CareerOneStop: Resumes)

So the real goal isn’t to “beat the robot”. It’s two simpler things:

1. The software must be able to read your file.
2. A person must quickly see that you meet the requirements.

Why there’s no universal “ATS score”

There are many different ATS products, and employers configure them differently. No vendor publishes a universal score that every employer uses. Any tool that hands you a single “ATS score” is estimating. That’s why RizzWorks’ Resume Review gives you two separate checks: can software read it and will a human be convinced, each with specific fixes, and no made-up number.

Make your file easy to read

• Use a standard file type. If the posting doesn’t specify, Word, PDF or plain text are safe. Never send a scanned image of a resume, because the text won’t be recognized. (CareerOneStop)
• Keep the layout simple. One column, standard section headings (“Experience”, “Education”, “Skills”), and real text, not text inside images or text boxes.
• Put contact details in the body, not only in a header or footer.
• Use normal dates like “Mar 2022 – Present” so dates parse cleanly.
• Check the preview. Many application systems show what they pulled from your file. Look at it before you submit and fix anything that came through wrong.

Make the requirements easy to find

CareerOneStop’s advice is to show you meet the minimum qualifications near the top, and to use terms that match the job posting. A human reviewer may scan your resume for only a few seconds. (CareerOneStop)

• Lead with a short summary or a skills section that matches the role.
• Use the posting’s exact wording for skills you genuinely have (“project management”, not just “PM”).
• Back each key skill with a bullet that shows you used it.

A 60-second checklist

• Saved as Word or PDF, not an image
• Single column, standard headings
• Contact info in the body
• Must-have requirements visible in the top third
• Posting’s terms used where they’re true for you
• Application preview checked before submitting

Next: How to tailor your resume without lying.