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How to Create an ATS-Friendly Resume (Step-by-Step Guide)

In today’s competitive job market, having a good-looking resume is not enough.
Your resume must also pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) — the software used by most companies to screen resumes before a human ever sees them.

If your resume is not ATS-friendly, it may get rejected automatically, even if you are a perfect fit for the job.

In this guide, you’ll learn what an ATS resume is, why it matters, and how to create an ATS-friendly resume easily.

What Is an ATS (Applicant Tracking System)?

An ATS is software used by recruiters to:

Large companies receive hundreds of resumes for a single job. ATS helps them shortlist candidates quickly.

👉 Important: If your resume cannot be read by ATS software, it may never reach the recruiter.

Why ATS-Friendly Resumes Matter

Here’s why ATS optimization is important:

  • Over 75% of resumes are rejected by ATS
  • ATS scans resumes for keywords
  • Poor formatting can break ATS parsing
  • ATS-friendly resumes increase interview chances
Key Rules to Create an ATS-Friendly Resume
1. Use Simple Resume Formatting

ATS systems struggle with complex layouts.

Best practices:
  • Use single-column layout
  • Avoid tables, text boxes, icons, and graphics
Use standard fonts like:
  • Arial
  • Calibri
  • Times New Roman
Avoid
  • Fancy designs
  • Multiple columns
  • Images or logos
2. Use Standard Section Headings

ATS systems look for familiar headings. Use common titles like:

  • Summary
  • Skills
  • Work Experience
  • Education
  • Certifications
  • Projects

Avoid creative headings like:

  • “What I’ve Done”
  • “My Journey”
  • “Career Story”

3. Optimize with Job Keywords

ATS scans resumes for keywords from the job description.

How to do it:

  • Read the job posting carefully
  • Identify skills, tools, and job titles
  • Add them naturally to your resume

Example:

If the job mentions React, JavaScript, REST API, include those terms in your skills and experience sections.

Don’t keyword stuff. Keep it natural.

4. Avoid Headers, Footers, and Tables

Many ATS tools cannot read content inside:

  • Headers
  • Footers
  • Tables

Important details like name, email, and phone number should be in the main body of the resume.

5. Use Simple Bullet Points

Use clean bullet points for experience:

✅ Good example:
Copy Text 
• Built responsive web applications using React
• Improved website performance by 30%

❌ Avoid symbols, emojis, or icons.

6. Save Resume in ATS-Friendly Formats

Best formats:

  • PDF (ATS-optimized)
  • DOC / DOCX

Avoid:

  • JPG / PNG
  • Canva exports
  • Infographic resumes
How to Easily Create an ATS-Friendly Resume

Creating an ATS-friendly resume manually can be confusing — especially for beginners. That’s why we built a simple AI-powered resume tool:

👉 Create your ATS-friendly resume here:
🔗 https://resume.learn2kode.in/

Why Use This Resume Builder?
  • ATS-optimized resume templates
  • Simple, clean formatting
  • AI-generated professional content
  • Multiple resume styles
  • Export in PDF & DOC formats
  • Beginner-friendly and fast

You just enter your basic details, and the AI helps generate professional content that works with ATS systems.

Common ATS Resume Mistakes to Avoid
  • Using images or icons
  • Fancy fonts
  • Missing keywords
  • Creative section names
  • Submitting non-readable file formats

Avoiding these mistakes can significantly improve your job application success rate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is an ATS-friendly resume?

An ATS-friendly resume is a resume formatted in a way that applicant tracking systems can easily read, scan, and rank based on keywords, skills, and experience.

Companies use ATS software to filter and manage large volumes of resumes efficiently by scanning for job-related keywords and qualifications.

Yes. Resumes with complex designs, images, tables, or missing keywords can be rejected by ATS before reaching a recruiter.

Simple, single-column resumes in PDF or DOC/DOCX format with standard headings work best for ATS systems.

No. Most ATS systems struggle to read two-column layouts and may misinterpret or skip content.

Yes, most modern ATS systems can read ATS-optimized PDF files, but DOC/DOCX is always the safest option.

Carefully review the job description and include relevant skills, tools, and role-specific keywords naturally throughout your resume.

Yes. AI tools can help generate optimized content and structure that aligns with ATS requirements.

👉 Try this free tool: https://resume.learn2kode.in/

Not all resume builders are ATS-friendly. Choose one that uses clean formatting, standard headings, and allows export in PDF or DOC formats.

 

The easiest way is to use an ATS-optimized resume builder that automatically follows formatting and keyword best practices.

🚀 Create your ATS-friendly resume here:
🔗 https://resume.learn2kode.in/

Final Thoughts

An ATS-friendly resume is not about fancy design — it’s about clarity, structure, and keywords. If you want:

  • More resume shortlists
  • Better visibility to recruiters
  • Faster resume creation

Then start using an ATS-optimized approach today.

🚀 Build your ATS-friendly resume now:
👉 https://resume.learn2kode.in/