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How to Write an ATS-Friendly Resume in 2024

Sarah Johnson

Career Expert

Published
March 15, 2024
Reading Time
8 min read
How to Write an ATS-Friendly Resume in 2024 - Resume Writing

Learn the secrets to creating a resume that passes through Applicant Tracking Systems and lands you more interviews.

Introduction

In today's digital age, 75% of resumes are never seen by a human eye. Why? Because they're filtered out by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). To land an interview, you first need to beat the bot.

What is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System is software used by employers to scan, rank, and filter job applications. It searches for specific keywords, skills, and formatting to determine if a candidate is a good match.

Key Strategies for ATS Success

  • Use Standard Formatting: Stick to standard section headers like "Experience," "Education," and "Skills." Creative headers like "My Journey" might confuse the system.
  • Keywords are King: Analyze the job description and include relevant keywords naturally in your resume.
  • Avoid Graphics and Columns: intricate designs, tables, and multi-column layouts can get garbled by older ATS parsing engines.
  • Save as .DOCX or PDF: While PDF is best for preserving formatting, make sure it's text-searchable.

Conclusion

Writing an ATS-friendly resume doesn't mean it has to be boring. It means finding the balance between readability for machines and appeal for humans. Use our templates to get the best of both worlds.

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Written by

Sarah Johnson

A seasoned career expert with years of experience helping professionals land their dream jobs. Passionate about empowering job seekers with practical, actionable advice.

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