Approximately 75% of resumes submitted for job openings are deprioritized or misread by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and never viewed by a human recruiter.
If you’ve applied for dozens of jobs and heard nothing back, it may not be your experience. It may be that no human ever saw your resume. Most candidates assume they are being rejected by recruiters. In reality, many are being filtered out by software before a human ever opens their file.
A business partner of ours, Resume Professors, reviews hundreds of resumes every year.
One of the most common misconceptions they see is this: candidates assume their resume is being read first by a person. When in reality, up to 70% of large companies use an ATS.
ATS software is designed to filter, rank, and sometimes reject resumes before a recruiter ever sees them. That means even highly qualified candidates can be screened out if their resume isn’t built to work with the system.
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What is an ATS and Why is It Important?
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is essentially software that helps employers collect, sort, read and track job applications. That said, ATS doesn’t “read” your resume the way a person would. Instead, it ‘parses’ your resume. This is accomplished by extracting information like job titles, dates, skills, and keywords. The ATS then compares the data collected to the job description.
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What ATS Does Well
Identifies Keywords and Skills
- ATS software is great at spotting specific words and phrases. Examples would be job titles, skills, certifications, and tools that match the job description. If those terms aren’t present or are worded differently, your resume may score lower.
Can Parse Clean, Structured Text
- Simple, standard formatting helps ATS read your resume accurately. Clear section headings, consistent fonts, and straightforward layouts make it easier for the system to pull your information into the right fields.
Ranks Resumes Based on Relevance
- The ATS can effectively compare your resume to the job requirements and assigns a match score. The system checks how closely your resume matches the role and ranks it accordingly.
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What ATS Does Poorly
Fails to Understand Context
- ATS can find keywords, but it can’t judge depth of experience. A brief mention of a keyword may be interpreted the same as years of use.
Jumbles Complex or Creative Formatting
- Columns, graphics, tables, and text boxes often confuse ATS software. When formatting is misunderstood by the ATS, important details can be skipped or misplaced.
Fails to Recognize Equivalent Skills or Job Titles
- ATS looks for exact wording. If your resume uses different titles or terms than the job description, the system may not recognize that you’re actually qualified for the role.
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We asked Resume Professors to break down the most common submission traps that turn your resume into ATS wallpaper. Here is what they came back with.
1. Hard Exclusions / Filters
Some resume filters are binary. No degree? Too few years of experience? Live 300 miles away? Some ATS systems will auto-reject your resume, regardless of other qualified content, before you even have a chance to describe your skills or accomplishment.
2. Missing or Misaligned Keywords
ATS scanners are basically picky word-nerds. Leave out the exact skills, titles, or keywords they’re hunting for, and your match score tanks. Using synonyms? Risky. “Project Management Guru” might be impressive to humans, but to the ATS, it’s gibberish.
3. Poor Content, Lack of Quantification
Even if your resume makes it past the filter, weak or vague statements (e.g. “responsible for marketing”) won’t persuade human readers. Show impact. Quantify results. Make them say, “Wow, this person didn’t just exist in the company. They crushed it.”
4. Complex Formatting, Columns, Graphics, or Tables
Sure, your resume could double as autobiographical art. The ATS isn’t judging creativity. Complex tables, columns, or graphics can confuse the system, causing it to misread your experience or drop key information. Our friends at Resume Professors recommend keeping it simple when it comes to formatting.
5. Missing Structural Elements
Section headings like “Work Experience” or “Education” aren’t just formalities. They are critical markers. Skip them, and the ATS might toss your content into a digital black hole.
6. Wrong File Types
Some ATS systems can’t handle scanned PDFs, images, or files from your cousin’s custom resume generator. Stick with text based .docx or simple PDF if allowed.
When in doubt, imagine sending your resume to a computer from 1995.
7. Abbreviations Gone Wild
The use of obscure acronyms or failure to spell out terms can result in missed matches. For example, “PMP” vs “Project Management Professional” may be interpreted differently. Spell things out, but don’t overdo it. Find that sweet spot where humans and the ATS both nod approvingly.
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The good news? TempExperts knows that ATS success isn’t about tricks or gaming the system. It’s about clarity, relevance, and structure. Below are the resume tips we consistently give candidates to help them pass the ATS and still impress hiring managers.
Your experience is valuable. The number 1 job of your resume is to make it visible. Make it easy for the system to understand exactly who you are and what you do.
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How Do I Fix My Resume?
Here are TempExperts’ 8 tips for crafting an accessible, readable, and ATS friendly resume.
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1. Use ATS-Friendly Formatting
Some of the most visually impressive resumes we see are the ones ATS struggles with the most.
- Use a single-column layout
- Avoid tables, text boxes, headers/footers, and graphics
- Stick to standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
- Save as a Word document unless a PDF is explicitly requested
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2. Use Keywords Intentionally
ATS relies heavily on keywords, and those keywords come directly from the job description. This doesn’t mean keyword stuffing. It means alignment.
- Identify recurring terms in the job posting (skills, tools, certifications, titles)
- Use those same terms naturally within your resume
- Match phrasing where appropriate (e.g., “project management” vs. “managing projects”)
- If the job description mentions “contract management” and your resume says “vendor oversight,” the system may not connect the dots—even if a human would.
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3. Use Standard Section Headings
Creative section titles may look nice, but ATS often doesn’t recognize them.
- Stick to standard headings like: Professional Experience, Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications
- Avoid alternatives like: “Where I’ve Made an Impact”, “My Journey,” “What I Bring to the Table”
- ATS looks for familiarity, not flair.
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4. Write Bullet Points That Work for Both ATS and Humans
A common myth is that ATS prefers robotic resumes. In reality, the same bullet points that work for ATS also work for recruiters—clear, specific, and results-focused.
- Use strong bullet points that off clear descriptions of skills or accomplishments.
- Start with action verbs
- Include measurable outcomes when possible
- Reference relevant skills and tools
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5. Be Precise with Job Titles
ATS weighs job titles heavily when ranking resumes.
- Even if your official title was unconventional, clarify it.
- Translate your role into language the job market understands.
- Translating your role into language the system understands.
- Be accurate about your title. Do not over-inflate it.
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Some Real-Life Examples:
Client Success Ninja → Client Success Manager
Operations Lead II → Operations Manager
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6. The Skills Section Matters
Many ATS platforms scan the Skills section first and it most definitely matters
- List hard skills and tools (software, systems, methodologies)
- Avoid vague soft skills like “team player” or “strong communicator”
- Reflect skills mentioned in the job description
- Soft skills should be demonstrated in your experience, not listed.
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7. Avoid Gaps ATS Can’t Explain
ATS tracks employment dates closely. Unclear timelines can work against you.
- Use consistent formatting:
- Month/Year – Month/Year
- Clearly label contract, temporary, or consulting roles
- Group similar short-term roles when possible
- Clarity reduces assumptions—by both systems and humans.
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8. Length Matters Less Than Relevance
ATS does not penalize longer resumes. Irrelevance does.
- Early career professionals: typically 1 page
- Mid-level professionals: 1–2 pages
- Senior professionals: 2 pages is normal
- If a role or bullet doesn’t support the job you’re targeting, remove it.
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A Final Thought: ATS Isn’t the Enemy. It’s Just the Filter.
Applicant Tracking Systems aren’t designed to eliminate good candidates. They’re designed to manage volume. Candidates who understand that and build resumes accordingly have a significant advantage.
As a staffing firm trusted by both candidates and employers, TempExperts role is to help bridge that gap: making sure strong experience is visible, searchable, and clearly communicated.
When your resume is built to pass ATS and speak to people, you’re no longer relying on luck. You’re using strategy.