ATS Friendly Resume: How to Create a Resume That Gets Through Applicant Tracking Systems

When you apply for a job online, your resume may not be reviewed by a recruiter immediately. Many employers use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to organise applications, identify relevant candidates and help recruiters manage large volumes of CVs and resumes.

This makes having an ats friendly resume increasingly important for job seekers.

An ATS-friendly resume uses a clear structure, readable formatting and relevant keywords so that recruitment software can accurately identify your experience and qualifications. However, being ATS-friendly does not mean filling your resume with keywords or creating a plain document with no consideration for the reader.

In this guide, we explain what is ats friendly resume, how to create one, what to look for in an ats friendly resume template, and how an ats friendly resume checker can help you improve your application.

What Is ATS Friendly Resume?

So, what is ats friendly resume exactly?

An ATS-friendly resume is a resume formatted and written in a way that Applicant Tracking Systems can easily read, interpret and process.

An ATS may analyse information such as:

• Job titles

• Skills

• Qualifications

• Employment history

• Education

• Professional certifications

• Relevant keywords

• Contact information

If your resume contains complicated formatting, images, text inside graphics or unusual section structures, the system may struggle to interpret important information.

A simple, professional structure is therefore usually the safest approach.

Why Do You Need an ATS Friendly Resume?

The modern recruitment process often involves online applications. Employers may receive hundreds of applications for a single position, making recruitment software useful for organising candidates.

An ats friendly resume can help ensure that your relevant information is presented clearly and can be interpreted correctly.

However, ATS optimisation is only one part of a successful job application.

Your resume still needs to:

1. Demonstrate relevant experience.

2. Show measurable achievements.

3. Match the requirements of the vacancy.

4. Be easy for recruiters to read.

5. Communicate your value clearly.

The objective should never be to write a resume exclusively for software. You need to create a document that works for both the ATS and the human recruiter.

How to Create an ATS Friendly Resume

Creating an ats friendly resume starts with straightforward formatting.

Use Standard Section Headings

Use familiar headings such as:

• Professional Summary

• Skills

• Work Experience

• Education

• Certifications

Avoid creative headings that could make it difficult for recruitment software to understand what information a section contains.

Use a Simple Layout

Keep the structure clean and consistent.

Avoid excessive:

• Graphics

• Icons

• Text boxes

• Tables

• Decorative elements

• Multiple columns

• Logos

• Images

A visually attractive resume is not necessarily an effective resume if important information cannot be extracted correctly.

Choose a Readable Font

Use a professional and easy-to-read font throughout your resume.

Keep formatting consistent for:

• Headings

• Job titles

• Company names

• Dates

• Bullet points

Consistency makes your resume easier to scan.

ATS Friendly Resume Template: What Should It Include?

When searching for an ats friendly resume template, look beyond appearance.

A good template should provide space for the information recruiters actually need.

A practical structure could look like this:

FULL NAME
Phone | Email | LinkedIn | Location

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

A short overview of your professional background, expertise and career goals.

KEY SKILLS

• Skill 1

• Skill 2

• Skill 3

• Skill 4

• Skill 5

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Job Title – Company Name
Location | Dates

• Achievement or responsibility

• Achievement or responsibility

• Achievement or responsibility

EDUCATION

Qualification – Institution
Year

CERTIFICATIONS

Relevant professional certifications and training.

This structure is simple, readable and easy to customise for different vacancies.

ATS Friendly Resume Templates: Are They Better?

There are many ats friendly resume templates available online, but not every template labelled "ATS-friendly" is necessarily suitable.

Before using a template, check whether:

• Text can be selected normally.

• Headings are clearly identified.

• The document does not depend heavily on graphics.

• Your employment history is easy to follow.

• Skills can be clearly identified.

• The formatting remains consistent.

• The file can be exported correctly.

Remember that a template is only the structure. You still need strong content and relevant keywords.

A basic template with excellent, targeted content is usually more valuable than a sophisticated template with weak or generic information.

Use Keywords from the Job Description

Keywords are an important part of creating an ats friendly resume.

Start by reading the vacancy carefully.

Look for:

• Required technical skills

• Soft skills

• Qualifications

• Software or platforms

• Job titles

• Industry terminology

• Certifications

• Specific responsibilities

For example, if a UK marketing vacancy asks for experience with SEO, Google Ads, CRM systems and content marketing, candidates with genuine experience in these areas should make that experience clearly visible in their resume.

Do not simply copy every keyword from the job description. Keywords should accurately reflect your actual skills and experience.

Write Achievement-Focused Experience

ATS optimisation cannot compensate for weak professional content.

Instead of simply listing responsibilities, explain what you achieved.

For example:

Weak:

Managed social media accounts and created content.

Stronger:

Managed social media campaigns across multiple platforms, increasing engagement and generating qualified website traffic.

The second example provides more context and demonstrates the candidate's impact.

Where possible, include measurable outcomes such as:

• Revenue growth

• Percentage increases

• Number of leads

• Cost savings

• Conversion improvements

• Projects completed

• Team size

• Customer growth

What Is an ATS Friendly Resume Checker?

An ats friendly resume checker is a tool designed to analyse your resume against factors that may affect how effectively it works with recruitment systems.

Depending on the tool, it may identify:

• Missing keywords

• Formatting issues

• Missing sections

• Skills that do not match the vacancy

• Potential readability problems

• Areas where your resume could be improved

A resume checker can be useful before submitting an application, particularly when you are applying for competitive positions.

However, do not treat an automated score as a guarantee that you will get an interview. Different employers use different recruitment systems and screening processes.

The quality and relevance of your experience still matter.

Use Genies Career Hub to Improve Your Resume

If you want to create an ats friendly resume without starting from scratch, Genies Career Hub's CV Studio provides tools designed to help job seekers create and improve their CVs.

You can also explore GeniesJobs to find opportunities and use individual job descriptions to tailor your CV to the roles you want.

For candidates who need more strategic support, Career Coaching can help with CV positioning, career direction and job-search strategy.

Common ATS Resume Mistakes

Even candidates using an ats friendly resume template can make mistakes that reduce the effectiveness of their application.

Avoid:

• Using images instead of text

• Putting important information inside graphics

• Using excessive columns

• Keyword stuffing

• Including irrelevant information

• Writing long paragraphs

• Using inconsistent job dates

• Sending the same resume for every vacancy

• Using unusual section headings

• Failing to proofread

Your resume should be simple enough for software to process but compelling enough for a recruiter to want to continue reading.

Should You Use Word or PDF?

The correct file format depends on the employer's application instructions.

If the vacancy specifically asks for a Word document, submit a Word document. If it requests PDF, use PDF.

The most important thing is to follow the employer's instructions and check your final document after exporting it. Make sure the formatting has not changed and that all text remains readable.

Final Thoughts

An ats friendly resume is not about tricking recruitment software. It is about presenting your professional information in a clear, structured and relevant format.

When choosing between different ats friendly resume templates, prioritise readability and simplicity over complicated design. Tailor your content to each vacancy, use relevant keywords naturally and focus on achievements rather than simply listing responsibilities.

Finally, using an ats friendly resume checker can provide another useful layer of review before you submit your application.

Your goal is simple: create a resume that can be understood by the recruitment system and gives the recruiter a compelling reason to contact you.