16 December, 2025
These Proven Tricks Will Turn Your Resume Into an ATS-Friendly Resume
In 2026, most companies are using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software to scan resumes. It is basically the first thing your resume runs into, the second you hit “apply.” It reads through your details, skills, job titles, etc and tries to figure out whether you match what the employer is looking for. And since most companies rely on this software, having an ATS-friendly resume honestly matters a lot more than people realize.In this article, I’m going through 10 simple tricks that actually help with ATS scans. I’ve added small examples too, so you can see how each trick works in real life.
At the end, you will have a more precise understanding of creating an ATS-friendly resume that is more likely to pass the very first screening and reach an actual human recruiter.
Why Does This Matter?
ATS software scans your resume, retrieves data, and checks the job advertisement for matching elements. If you place the right terms in the right places, you go through. In contrast, if you overlook these aspects, your application may still be filtered out before a recruiter gets to see it. To match better, it is recommended by job boards as well as resume tools to use simple templates and focus primarily on keyword usage.
1. Keep Your Layout Predictable, Not Pretty
You can absolutely have taste, just maybe don’t show all of it on your resume. ATS systems don’t love creative layouts.
Avoid:
1. Double Columns
2. Icons
3. Heavy Graphics
4. Boxes
Once again a very common resume format is to be used. The resume will consist of a single column with easy-to-understand titles and readable text.
This is the reason why so many people go for the free resume templates that are already tested. Their use saves time, especially when someone is in urgent need of a resume.
2. Use Standard Section Headings
Use headings recruiters expect:
1. Summary
2 Experience
3. Skills
4. Education
Not:
1. “My Journey”
2. “What I Bring to the Table”
3. “Where I’ve Worked (It’s a Lot)”
Machines get confused. And confused machines reject you. An uncluttered, ATS-friendly resume avoids all that.
3. Use Resume Keywords Like You Mean Them
If the job posting says they need:
1. CRM Tools
2. SQL
3. Project Coordination
…and your resume lists none of those? That resume’s not moving forward.
It is not necessary to exaggerate anything. Just show the job description where it truly matches your experience. That is the basic resume optimization which most people don’t do.
4. Your File Name Matters More Than You Think
When a recruiter opens a file with the name “Resume-final-FINAL-2023-new.pdf”, chances are he already thinks you are unprofessional. You need something that sounds more professional, and recruiters quickly identify your resume. So try something simple:
FirstName-LastName-JobTitle-Resume.pdf
It sounds minor, but little things make a resume look like a professional resume, not a last-minute upload.
5. Don’t Overload Skills
People want to show everything they’ve ever learned. The ATS does not care. Recruiters do not care.
A good rule:
1. Keep the tools you are familiar with
2. Cut out the tools you have not used in 3 years or more
This will make it easier for both humans and machines to perceive who you really are, rather than just being faced with a pile of skills.
6. Write Experience Like You Actually Did Something
Here’s the pattern that works:
1. Action
2. What You Did
3. What Changed
Example of a human-sounding bullet:
Led the onboarding cleanup project and helped cut setup time by roughly 25% for new hires.
It’s not elaborate, but it’s straightforward. Effective resumes resonate with the voice of a professional, rather than that of a corporate poet. If you ever feel stuck, tools like AI Pro Resume’s resume examples help spark ideas without writing the entire thing for you.
7. Skip Skill Bars, Icons & Anything Decorative
ATS systems cannot read:
1. circles
2. tiny graphs
3. progress bars
4. icons
If you write “Python ★★★★★” — the star rating means nothing. Text is more readable to ATS than visuals. Always.
8. Save Your Resume as a Real PDF, Not a Screenshot
Some users take a screenshot that is blurry, thinking it is a PDF and then export that image. Those exports are beyond the machine's comprehension. Always export a nice, selectable-text PDF. Or if a particular firm requests Word, obey those instructions.
In case of doubt, AI Pro Resume’s ATS checker will promptly indicate problems and guide you through the necessary corrections rather than relying on intuition.
9. Use a Resume Summary That Says Something
Bad summary:
“Motivated, hardworking professional seeking growth opportunities.”
Good summary:
“Operations assistant with 3+ years supporting logistics teams; strongest in scheduling, vendor coordination, and inventory updates.”
Real work is way more attractive than fancy words.
If needed, go browse cover letter examples for inspiration on tone. They help you get into that concise writing mode.
10. Check for ATS Issues Before You Apply
This is the step that most people skip: the final scan. Tools can read your resume the way ATS machines do and highlight:
1. missing keywords
2. formatting issues
3. broken spacing
4. unreadable sections
AI Pro Resume’s ATS checker and its pre-tested resume templates are helpful here, especially when you’re applying fast and don’t want hidden mistakes blocking you.
Mini Examples of ATS-Friendly vs Not-So-Friendly
❌Not ATS-friendly
Marketing Wizard
✨ Grew brand ✨
☎️ 000-0000
ATS sees… nothing useful. It might not read emojis or stylized headings at all.
✅ATS-friendly
Marketing Specialist
Increased newsletter engagement by 18% over six months through targeted segmentation.
No flair. No emojis. Just real work.
Extra Tips People Don’t Mention Enough
• Your email matters
“Mysterious.dev92@…” does not look professional.
• PDFs can break if exported incorrectly
Always open your PDF after saving and try selecting the text. If it is selected as one continuous block, it’s broken.
• Use short paragraphs
Recruiters skim through resumes. Machines do so even more intensively.
• Use tools when they save time
A good CV builder allows you to concentrate on the writing, not on the layout.
Where Cover Letters Fit In
Even when you are applying quickly, a small but clear job application letter still provides a human context. Use clean cover letter templates and cover letter examples which help you avoid fluff and stay relevant. Keep it short; no one reads a cover letter novella.
Internal-Linking Style Tips for Job Seekers on AI Job Orbit
If you're browsing roles on AI Job Orbit, keep your resume updated every time you apply. Switch out keywords, revisit your resume writing, adjust your resume format, and use free resume templates when you need a fresh start.
If you ever forget the structure of how to write a CV, bookmark it. Between ATS filters and fast recruiter scans, a clean layout is half the battle of creating an ATS-friendly resume.
A Quick Checklist
1. Keep the layout clean
2. Use standard headings
3. Use resume keywords
4. Name your file appropriately
5. Reduce your skills
6. Describe real achievements
7. Do not use graphics
8. Save in the right format
9. Write meaningful summaries
10. Do an ATS scan before submitting
That’s all. You do not need a flawless document, just a readable one.
To Summarize
Finding a job is already stressful. Your resume shouldn’t add more chaos. An ATS-friendly resume is simply a resume that doesn’t hide your experience behind formatting, noise, or confusing structure.
If you follow these small tricks, plus use tools like resume templates, resume examples, cover letter templates, and the ATS checker, you’ll give yourself a real shot at being seen. And in this hiring climate? Getting seen is half the win.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to make a 100% ATS friendly resume?
There isn’t a single solution, but the most “100% ATS-friendly” approach is to maintain:
1. Stick to a plain, single-column layout.
2. Use standard section headings like Work Experience, Skills, Education, Certifications.
3. Avoid graphics, icons, tables, shapes, or text boxes.
4. Use simple fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman).
5. Match your skills and action verbs to the job posting so the system can recognise them.
6. Add keywords naturally inside your bullet points, not stuffed at the bottom.
How to make your resume more ATS friendly?
Begin with the fundamentals resume tips:
1. Clean typeface (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
2. Appropriate text instead of figures
3. Use bullet points rather than lengthy paragraphs.
4. Refrain from using elaborate templates with borders or columns, as they may be scrambled by certain ATS systems.
5. Download and store your resume file in PDF or .docx format.
6. Keep your section titles standard.
7. Once the structure is clean, add the keywords that the job description keeps repeating, because that’s usually what the software is scanning for.
What is the 7 second rule in a resume?
It’s the rough window of time a recruiter gives your resume before deciding whether to keep reading or move on.
Can ChatGPT make an ATS friendly resume?
ChatGPT might help you tidy up your text or notice keywords that you have missed, yet you need to reorganize it by yourself, as ATS are very choosy. A lot of people simply paste their information into basic resume templates in order to maintain a clean and easy to read.
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