Applicant tracking, explained
Make sure the software can read your resume.
Many employers filter applications through software before a person ever looks. A few simple choices keep your resume parsable — and your experience visible.
- Plain-English rules
- Quick fixes
- Free guide
90/100
ATS score
- Keywords match the job
- Clean, parsable layout
- Readable fonts & sizes
- Contact details found
What happens to your resume
How an ATS reads it
- 01
It's parsed
The system extracts text and tries to sort it into fields: name, contact details, experience, education, skills.
- 02
It's searched
Recruiters filter by keywords, titles and skills taken from the job description.
- 03
It's ranked
Some systems score how closely a resume matches the posting — so relevance and clarity both count.
- 04
A person looks
Whatever passes still has to read well to a human, so clarity wins over decoration.
The rules
What to do — and what to skip
✓Do this
- Use standard section headings: Experience, Education, Skills
- Keep one clear reading order, top to bottom
- Use real text, not text inside images
- Include keywords from the job post where they're true
- Save and send a PDF made from real text
✕Avoid this
- ✕Put key details only in headers, footers or text boxes
- ✕Use icons or graphics instead of words
- ✕Pack in tables and columns that scramble order
- ✕Invent skills to match a posting
- ✕Use unusual fonts that don't embed
Our templates
Layouts that start from the right foundation.
Every template uses real text and a clear reading order. The AI review gives your resume a score and points out what to improve.
Keep going
Put it into practice
Supercharge your resume
AI review, ATS scoring, tailored suggestions and cover letters — the upgrades that move the needle.
Read more →
10 resume mistakes to avoid
The slips that quietly cost interviews — and the one-minute fix for each.
Read more →
A free resume in about 10 minutes
Pick a template, add the essentials, download — the quickest route to a resume you can send today.
Read more →
Refer friends & family
Know someone still looking? Pass this on.
A friend, a sibling, a classmate — one free professional resume can change how their next application lands. Sharing takes ten seconds.
FAQ
ATS questions
Do all employers use an ATS?+
Many mid-size and large employers do; small ones often don't. Writing for both software and people covers every case.
Does a two-column resume fail?+
Not necessarily — well-built two-column layouts parse fine. Simple single-column is the safest if you're unsure.
Should I add hidden keywords?+
No. It's easy to detect and reflects badly on you. Use the job post's words naturally where they genuinely apply.