What applicant tracking systems actually read in your resume

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help employers organise and search applications. Most parse your resume into fields like experience, education and skills, which recruiters then search and filter.

Structure that parses reliably

• Use standard section headings: Experience, Education, Skills, Projects
• Avoid putting key information in images, text boxes or headers
• Use a simple, single-column layout for important content
• Save in the format the application asks for

Keywords, used honestly

Recruiters search for the language of the role: tools, methods and responsibilities. Use the job description's terms where they truthfully describe your experience. Never add skills you cannot discuss in an interview.

Then write for the human

Passing a keyword search only gets your resume read. Outcome-led bullets are what make a recruiter want to speak to you.