RESUME & ATS
Build a Resume That Gets Through the System — and Gets Seen
A strong resume has two jobs: get through the screening process and give the person on the other side a clear reason to keep reading.
START HERE
Your Resume Has Two Audiences
Before a hiring manager ever sees your resume, it may first pass through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). That means your resume has to work for both sides—the technology that helps screen applications and the person deciding whether to keep reading.
The goal isn’t to beat the system. It’s to make your qualifications easy to find and your value easy to understand.
5 THINGS YOUR RESUME NEEDS TO DO
1. Match the job.
Use language and keywords that reflect the actual position you’re applying for.
2. Make your value obvious.
Show what you accomplished—not just what you were responsible for.
3. Keep it ATS-friendly.
Use clear headings, standard formatting, and avoid unnecessary graphics or complicated layouts.
4. Make it easy to scan.
A recruiter may spend only a short time on the first review. Put your strongest information where it can be found quickly.
5. Give them a reason to keep reading.
Your resume doesn’t need to tell your entire story. Its job is to create enough interest to get you to the next conversation.
WHAT ATS IS REALLY LOOKING FOR
An Applicant Tracking System helps employers organize and screen applications. It may look for information that matches the job description, including skills, experience, job titles, education, and relevant keywords.
Think match—not tricks.
Use the language in the job posting when it accurately describes your experience. If the employer asks for “customer service,” for example, and you have customer service experience, make sure those words actually appear on your resume.
Never stuff your resume with keywords you can’t support. The goal is to help the system recognize your qualifications—and make sure the person on the other side sees the same story.
BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR RESUME
Take 60 seconds and check these five things:
☐ Is this resume tailored to this specific job?
Your strongest skills and experience should match what the employer is asking for.
☐ Did you use relevant keywords from the job posting?
Only use keywords that honestly describe your skills and experience.
☐ Are your accomplishments clear?
Whenever possible, show results—not just responsibilities.
☐ Is the formatting simple and easy to scan?
Clear headings, consistent fonts, and straightforward formatting work best.
☐ Did you proofread it one last time?
Check names, dates, spelling, contact information, and formatting.
One resume shouldn’t do all the work. Adjust it for the opportunity in front of you.
RESUME QUICK FIXES
Don’t just describe what you were assigned to do. Show the value you brought to the job.
Instead of: Responsible for customer service.
Try: Assisted customers with questions, resolved concerns, and helped create a positive customer experience.
Instead of: Duties included maintaining inventory.
Try: Maintained accurate inventory records and helped ensure materials were available when needed.
Instead of: Responsible for training new employees.
Try: Trained new employees on workplace procedures, safety expectations, and daily responsibilities.
The difference? The stronger version shows what you actually did instead of simply naming a responsibility.
Whenever you can honestly add numbers, percentages, time saved, people served, or other measurable results, make it even stronger.
KEEP IT ATS-FRIENDLY
A resume doesn’t have to be fancy to be effective. In fact, simpler is often better.
DO:
• Use clear section headings such as Experience, Education, and Skills.
• Use a clean, readable font.
• Keep dates and job titles consistent.
• Use standard bullet points.
• Save and submit the file type requested by the employer.
AVOID:
• Complicated columns and layouts.
• Important information inside graphics or images.
• Decorative fonts that are difficult to read.
• Excessive colors, icons, charts, or design elements.
• Headers or footers containing critical information.
Remember: Your resume has to be easy for the system to process—and easy for the person on the other side to read.
THE 10-SECOND RESUME TEST
Before you send your resume, look at it the way a busy recruiter might.
Give yourself 10 seconds and ask:
Can I quickly tell what kind of job this person is qualified for?
Can I immediately find the skills and experience most relevant to the position?
Do the strongest qualifications stand out—or are they buried?
Does the resume make me want to keep reading?
If the important information is difficult to find, reorganize it. Your strongest and most relevant qualifications should not make the reader hunt for them.
The system may help your resume get through the door. The person on the other side decides what happens next.
YOUR RESUME SHOULD OPEN THE CONVERSATION
A resume isn’t the finish line. Its job is to help you get to the next step—the interview, the conversation, and the opportunity to show what you can bring to the employer.
Build it for the system. Write it for the person.
And remember: getting through ATS matters. Connecting with the person on the other side matters even more.