A Guide on How to Make Resumes ATS-Friendly

Almost 99% of Fortune 500 companies utilize Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to streamline their hiring process. This means that job seekers should know that making their resumes more ATS-compliant can help them secure a job interview and land that role in their dream company.

Continue reading the guide below to learn how to make resumes ATS-friendly for job descriptions, the importance of making them compliant for the system, the odds of you getting hired when making it compliant, as well as some frequently asked questions.

7 steps on how to make resumes ATS-friendly

Below is a guide on how to make your resume ATS-friendly.

1. Use clear headings
   
   Remember that the ATS software checks every single resume detail. Thus, it's important to double check the headings and use bullet points. This will make sure that it's properly labeled with consistent formatting and there are clear headings.
2. Avoid too much graphics
   
   The ATS generally ignores images, graphs, and tables as it usually struggles to fully read them and can confuse ATS software. Thus, it's suggested to completely avoid including these on your resume to ensure ATS compatibility and to make sure that the system can properly read it.
3. Choose a standard font
   
   Though it might be tempting to go against the grain and use a more creative take on a formal font, it's highly suggested to use fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman with a font size of 11 or 12 to make sure that the system can properly read your resume.
4. Practice keyword optimization
   
   Though it might be tempting to just send a general application for every job listing, the ATS will immediately remove your resume if it doesn't contain the right words as the ATS scans relevant keywords for the role. Thus, remember to include the right set of resume keywords to make sure that your resume will properly be processed by the ATS.
5. Check for grammatical errors
   
   It's easy to make grammatical errors in a resume, especially if you're rushing to submit it on time. Thus, it's important to double check your resume for simple to complex grammatical errors to make sure that it is fully compliant with the ATS system.
6. Make it simple
   
   Simplicity is best when it comes to resumes, and making an ATS-compliant resume is no exception. It's important to make sure that your resume is relatively simple to ensure that the system can read it relatively quickly.
7. Use an online template
   
   Lastly, remember that the internet is your friend - and thus, using an online template from sites like Indeed or LinkedIn is completely acceptable while also ensuring that it's in the right chronological resume format. Just remember to change every major detail and add a flair of your own to make sure that your personality still stands out.

Why is it important to make your resume ATS compliant?

It's important to make your resume ATS compliant because as mentioned earlier, a vast majority of U.S. corporations use it as it enables recruiters to streamline their hiring process further compared to companies that do not. This means that it's important to make sure that it's compliant just to err on the safe side.

ATS compliance also ensures that the entirety of your resume content is more formal, which is always a good thing as most companies generally look for formal resumes in the first place. This means that an ATS-friendly approach to resume writing ensures that your resume is written with a formal tone, which means better odds of getting hired.

Knowing how to make resumes ATS-friendly also ensures that you can properly explain your qualifications in a short and concise manner. This ensures that hiring managers can easily see what they're looking for, which can help you land that interview faster.

What are the odds of getting hired if you have an ATS-friendly resume?

Statistically, there aren't any numbers to know the specific odds of getting hired if you know how to make a resume ATS-friendly. However, since the vast majority of U.S. companies now use ATS to hire new employees, it's safe to assume that the odds can be relatively high, especially for job openings at Fortune 500 companies.

It's also important to consider that the ATS is designed to gatekeep the initial hiring process and screen potential new hires. Thus, making your resume completely ATS compliant ensures that your odds of being chosen are significantly increased.

FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions on how to make resumes ATS-friendly.

Can I use ChatGPT to make an ATS-friendly resume?

Yes, you can use ChatGPT to make an ATS-friendly resume template. However, keep in mind that most companies with a specific job posting for specific jobs, especially in the creative field like ad agencies and multimedia corporations, do not accept AI-generated resumes.

This means that yes, you can use ChatGPT to make a resume more ATS compliant - but you should revise it enough to make it look like it's not as your resume is your professional summary, not the AI's. Take inspiration from it and not just copy and paste it to a word document.

Is it possible to make an ATS-friendly resume for free?

Yes, there are plenty of sites that can help provide you with free ATS resume template and has a free resume builder. Sites like Indeed can even provide you with a free, ATS-friendly format that you can follow, and all you need to do is fill it in with your personal information that's tailored to the specific job requirements.

How do I convert my resume to ATS friendly?

You can make an ATS optimized resume by following templates that are easily available online. Additionally, you can also use ChatGPT to make it more friendly, albeit you should always revise it to ensure it doesn't sound AI-generated.