The Ultimate ATS Guide

Over 90% of large companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter resumes before a human ever reads them. Here's how to ensure yours passes the test.

What is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System is software used by recruiters to organize and filter job applications. It scans your resume for specific keywords, formatting, and experience levels to determine if you are a good match for the job description.

How to Optimize for ATS

• Use standard section headings: Stick to traditional headings like "Experience", "Education", and "Skills". Creative headings like "Where I've Been" can confuse the parser.
• Include targeted keywords: Carefully read the job description and incorporate exactly the same skills and keywords in your resume.
• Avoid complex formatting: Tables, text boxes, columns, and graphics often cannot be read by older ATS software. MicResume's ATS templates are specifically designed to avoid these issues.
• Spell out acronyms: Include both the abbreviation and the full term (e.g., "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)").
• Submit as a PDF: Unless the application specifically asks for a Word document, a clean PDF (like the ones generated by MicResume) preserves your layout while remaining highly scannable by modern ATS software.