Blog · 4 min read
Do applicant tracking systems really reject your resume?
You may have heard that robots throw out most resumes. The reality is more ordinary, and more useful to know.
What an ATS is
An applicant tracking system is software employers use to collect applications, read resume text, and let recruiters search and filter candidates. Setups vary a lot between employers.
What can go wrong
Some files are hard for the software to read: image-only PDFs, text inside tables or text boxes, unusual fonts, or contact details in the page header. Knockout questions, such as work authorization or required licenses, can also screen applications.
What helps
A simple layout, standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills) and the job's own words where they truthfully describe your work.
What does not help
Hidden white text, pasted job descriptions or long keyword lists. A person usually reads the resume eventually, and stuffing looks bad when they do. No tool can promise to beat every system.
Build a clean, readable resume