Most large companies filter resumes with ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) before a human reads them. Here’s how to pass.
ATS rules
- Simple formatting: no tables, text boxes, or graphics — single column
- Standard headings: Experience, Education, Skills (not “My Journey”)
- Fonts: Arial, Calibri, or Georgia; 10.5-12pt
- File type: PDF (unless job post says DOCX)
- Keywords: mirror the job post’s skills and tools verbatim
Structure
- Header: name, phone, email, LinkedIn, portfolio/GitHub
- Summary: 2 lines tailored to the role
- Skills: 8-12, grouped (e.g., Tools: Excel, Figma)
- Experience: bullet points with action + result (“Built X, increasing Y by Z%”)
- Education: degree, university, year
- Extras: certifications, languages
Checklist
- One page (students/new grads)
- No photos, no fancy templates
- Keywords from job post included naturally
- Numbers in 3+ bullets
- No typos (read aloud once)
- PDF named: Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf
Common mistakes
- Keyword stuffing (white text tricks get flagged)
- Two-column designs that scramble parsing
- Abbreviations without full form first (“SEO (Search Engine Optimization)”)
FAQ
Do I need a different resume per job?
Tweak the summary + skills + 2-3 bullets per application. 10 minutes each.
What about creative roles?
Keep an ATS version for applications + a designed portfolio version for humans.