Resume Writing

How to Optimize Your Resume for ATS: Complete Guide (2026)

Jobalytics Team

December 13, 2025

10 min read

You've applied to 100 jobs and heard back from... 3?

Here's the problem: Your resume probably isn't making it past the ATS.

Applicant Tracking Systems reject up to 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. If your resume isn't optimized for ATS, you're essentially applying to a black hole.

In this guide, we'll show you exactly how to optimize your resume for ATS in 2026—with 15 proven tips that actually work.

What is ATS and Why Does It Matter?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that companies use to:

Collect and store resumes
Parse resume content into searchable data
Score and rank candidates based on keywords
Filter out candidates who don't meet minimum requirements

The reality in 2026:

99% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS
75% of all employers use some form of ATS
About 75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before reaching humans

If you're applying online, assume you're dealing with an ATS.

15 Proven Tips to Optimize Your Resume for ATS

1. Use Standard Section Headers

ATS looks for specific sections. Use these exact headers:

✅ Use These:

Professional Summary (or Summary)
Work Experience (or Experience)
Education
Skills
Certifications

❌ Avoid These:

"My Journey" (instead of Work Experience)
"What I Bring to the Table" (instead of Skills)
"Academic Background" (instead of Education)

Why it matters: ATS systems are programmed to look for standard headers. Creative alternatives might not be parsed correctly.

2. Match Keywords from the Job Description

This is the single most important optimization.

How to do it:

Copy the job description into a document
Highlight key skills, qualifications, and terms
Include matching keywords in your resume
Use the exact same phrasing when possible

Example:

Job description says: "Experience with data visualization tools including Tableau"

❌ Bad: "Created visual reports using business intelligence software"

✅ Good: "Built executive dashboards using data visualization tools including Tableau and Power BI"

Pro tip: Use an ATS resume checker to see exactly which keywords you're missing.

3. Include Both Acronyms and Full Terms

Different ATS systems handle acronyms differently. Include both versions:

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
SQL (Structured Query Language)
AWS (Amazon Web Services)
KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)

This doubles your chances of matching the keyword, regardless of how the employer entered it.

4. Use a Simple, Clean Format

ATS can't read complex formatting. Keep it simple:

✅ Do:

Single-column layout
Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Times New Roman)
Font size 10-12pt for body, 14-16pt for headers
Clear section breaks
Standard bullet points (•)

❌ Don't:

Multiple columns
Tables or text boxes
Headers/footers with important info
Icons or images
Fancy bullet points (→, ✓, ★)

5. Choose the Right File Format

Best formats for ATS:

.docx — Most widely compatible
.pdf — Good if created from Word (not designed in Canva/Photoshop)
.txt — Universal but loses formatting

Check the job posting: Some specifically request a certain format. When in doubt, use .docx.

Warning: PDFs created from design software (Canva, InDesign) often can't be parsed by ATS because text is rendered as images.

6. Put Contact Info in the Right Place

Include contact details at the top of your resume (not in a header):


John Smith
[email protected] | (555) 123-4567 | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
New York, NY

Important:

Don't put contact info in the document header/footer — ATS often can't read these
Include city and state (or willing to relocate)
Use a professional email address
LinkedIn URL is optional but recommended

7. Optimize Your Job Titles

If your actual title was unique to your company, consider adjusting:

Example:

Actual title: "Customer Happiness Specialist Level II"
Industry standard: "Customer Success Manager"

Options:

Use the standard title if it's accurate: "Customer Success Manager"
Include both: "Customer Happiness Specialist (Customer Success Manager)"

Caution: Don't lie about your title. Just translate company-specific jargon to industry-standard terms.

8. Include Hard Skills in Context

Don't just list skills — show how you've used them:

❌ Bad (Skills section only):


Skills: Python, SQL, Machine Learning, Data Analysis

✅ Good (In work experience):


• Built predictive models using Python and scikit-learn, improving customer churn prediction accuracy by 23%
• Created automated SQL dashboards reducing weekly reporting time from 8 hours to 30 minutes

ATS and recruiters both prefer skills demonstrated in context.

9. Quantify Your Achievements

Numbers catch both ATS and human attention:

❌ Vague: "Improved sales performance significantly"

✅ Quantified: "Increased quarterly sales by 34% ($2.1M) by implementing new lead qualification process"

What to quantify:

Revenue/sales impact ($X, X%)
Time savings (hours, days, weeks)
Team size (managed X people)
Volume (handled X customers, processed X applications)
Efficiency gains (reduced X by Y%)

10. Use Standard Date Formats

ATS parses dates to calculate your experience. Use consistent, standard formats:

✅ Good formats:

January 2024 - Present
Jan 2024 - Present
01/2024 - Present

❌ Bad formats:

2024 - now
Q1 2024 - current
Winter 2024 - today

Be consistent: Whatever format you choose, use it throughout your resume.

11. Remove Graphics and Images

ATS cannot read:

Photos/headshots
Icons (phone icon, email icon)
Charts and graphs
Skill bars or progress indicators
Logos

Any information in these formats will be invisible to the ATS.

Alternative: Describe visual elements in text. Instead of a skill bar showing "Python: 90%", write "Python (Advanced)" or "5+ years Python experience."

12. Avoid Text Boxes and Tables

This is a common resume template mistake.

Many "modern" resume templates use tables to create layouts. The problem: ATS often reads tables left-to-right across rows, jumbling your content.

Example of what ATS might see from a two-column table:

ATS reads: "Work Experience Education Position A details University A Position B details University B"

Solution: Use a single-column layout with clear section breaks.

13. Include Relevant Keywords Throughout

Strategic keyword placement matters:

Professional Summary: Include 3-5 key terms from job description
Skills Section: List relevant hard and soft skills
Work Experience: Use keywords naturally in bullet points
Certifications: List relevant certifications with full names

Keyword density tip: Aim for important keywords to appear 2-3 times in your resume, but always naturally. Stuffing keywords (using them 10+ times) can backfire.

14. Tailor Your Resume for Each Application

One resume does NOT fit all jobs.

For each application:

Review the job description
Identify the key requirements and keywords
Adjust your resume to highlight relevant experience
Run an ATS check to verify your match score
Submit when you hit 70%+ match

Time investment: 15-30 minutes per tailored resume ROI: 3-5x more interviews compared to sending the same resume everywhere

15. Test Before You Apply

Don't guess — verify that your resume is ATS-optimized:

Use an ATS checker: Jobalytics lets you check free
Copy to plain text: Paste your resume into Notepad. Can you still read it? This is roughly what ATS sees
Check the job description match: Aim for 70%+ keyword match

Pro tip: Check your resume against each job description before applying. Different jobs need different optimizations.

ATS Optimization Checklist

Use this checklist before every application:

Format

Single-column layout
No tables, text boxes, or columns
Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
No images, icons, or graphics
No headers/footers with important info
.docx or standard PDF format

Content

Standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills)
Contact info at top of document (not in header)
Job title matches or relates to target role
Skills section includes relevant keywords
Work experience includes keywords in context
Both acronyms and full terms included

Keywords

Checked resume against job description
Added missing relevant keywords
Keywords appear naturally (not stuffed)
Match score is 70% or higher

Common ATS Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Using Creative Resume Templates

Those beautiful Canva templates? Most can't be parsed by ATS. Stick to simple Word templates.

Mistake 2: Keyword Stuffing

Adding "project management" 15 times won't help. It'll hurt. Use keywords naturally, 2-3 times max.

Mistake 3: Putting Important Info in Headers/Footers

Many ATS systems can't read document headers and footers. If your phone number is in the footer, it might as well not exist.

Mistake 4: Using Uncommon File Formats

.pages, .odt, and image-based PDFs often don't parse correctly. Stick to .docx or properly-created PDFs.

Mistake 5: Sending the Same Resume Everywhere

Every job description is different. A resume optimized for Job A might score 45% for Job B. Always tailor.

Mistake 6: Ignoring the Job Description

The job description literally tells you what keywords to use. Read it carefully and mirror its language.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does resume formatting really matter for ATS?

Yes. Poor formatting can cause ATS to miss or jumble your information. A perfectly qualified candidate might score 30% simply because their resume couldn't be parsed.

Should I include a photo on my resume?

For US-based jobs, no. ATS can't read photos, and they're not expected in the US. For some international markets, photos are standard — check local customs.

How long should my resume be?

One page for early career (0-5 years), two pages for experienced professionals. ATS doesn't penalize length, but human recruiters might skim longer resumes.

Should I use a template or create from scratch?

Use a simple template if it helps you stay organized. Just make sure it's ATS-friendly (single column, no tables, no graphics).

How do I know if my resume passed the ATS?

You won't know for certain, but using an ATS checker before applying gives you the best chance. Aim for 70%+ match score.

Is it okay to slightly exaggerate my experience?

No. Anything on your resume should be verifiable. You'll likely be asked about it in interviews.

Conclusion

Optimizing your resume for ATS isn't about tricking the system — it's about clearly communicating your qualifications in a format that machines can read.

The key takeaways:

Use simple, single-column formatting
Match keywords from the job description
Include both acronyms and full terms
Quantify your achievements
Tailor your resume for each application
Test with an ATS checker before applying

Following these 15 tips will dramatically increase your chances of getting past the ATS filter and into the hands of a human recruiter.

Ready to optimize your resume?

Check Your ATS Score Free →

Last updated: January 2026

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