How can I check if my resume is ATS-friendly?

Do you often ask this question of yourself when applying for jobs? A lot of job seekers do. ATS-friendliness has become an essential quality for a resume to have, because it will ultimately decide whether your job application gets through the initial screening tests of employers.

If you Google the answer to this question, you will most likely be directed toward diverse free or paid tests that claim to determine the ATS score of your resume. However, these tests are often unreliable, as they are designed by individuals who don’t have an in-depth understanding of the recruitment industry.

There are different kinds of ATSs out there. Most of the modern ATSs used by employers today can scan your resume efficiently to extract important information. However, there are employers who still use older versions of ATSs that have trouble parsing certain resume elements. Even if your resume scores really high for a modern ATS test on the internet, that does not guarantee that your resume will get through some of the older ATSs.

However, you can ensure that your resume stays ATS-friendly by practicing a few commonly accepted resume writing best practices. Here are a few important ones, as pointed out by our professional resume writers:

• Do not share important information such as contact details through a header or footer on your resume. Sometimes, ATSs have trouble parsing information that is within headers and footers.
• Avoid adding images, graphs, tables, columns, and text boxes to your resume. Most resumes that include these design elements get rejected by the ATS as it has trouble parsing information presented within these elements.
• Do not go for complex and fancy resume templates and designs when creating your resume. Most ATS-friendly resume designs are rather plain. Using minimalist design elements helps you keep your resume ATS-friendly.
• Keep your resume simple, clean, and efficient with an easy-to-navigate resume template. Make it easy for the ATS to find important information on your resume.
• Do not add multiple columns to your resume as some ATSs have trouble parsing them properly. Some modern ATSs are able to parse resumes that are presented in double columns. However, it is best to not take any chances with your job application by using a multiple-column resume design.
• Optimize your resume with relevant keywords to improve the ATS compatibility of your resume. The ATS scans your resume for certain keywords. Ensuring these keywords are incorporated into your resume in the right context and frequency will improve the ATS compatibility of the document.
• Use standard resume section titles to name your sections instead of unique and creative titles. If you go with a creative title like “What I’ve Learned,” the ATS may never understand that you are talking about your educational qualifications.
• Submit your resume to the website in the specified file format. When in doubt, a Word file or PDF works best. Employers often specify the file format within the job description, so pay attention.