How do I get my resume past the ATS?
Use a single-column layout, standard section headings, a normal font and a text-based PDF, then mirror the exact terminology used in the job posting — tools, titles and responsibilities — in your summary and bullets. Most rejections at this stage are caused by low relevance to that specific requisition or by formatting the parser cannot read, not by a hidden score threshold.
Formatting the parser can read
Parsing failures are silent, so fix them first.
- One column. Multi-column layouts scramble reading order.
- No text inside images, icons, text boxes or headers/footers.
- Standard headings: Experience, Education, Skills, Projects.
- Dates in a consistent format on every role.
- Text-based PDF or DOCX — never a scan or screenshot.
Relevance beats volume of keywords
Applicant tracking systems rank candidates by how closely the document matches the requisition. That means using the posting's own words where they are genuinely true of you: the tool names, the seniority language, the domain terms.
Keyword stuffing, white text and skill lists you cannot back up all fail at the human step immediately after. Tailor per posting instead of padding one master resume.
How to check before you apply
Score the resume against the posting, look at which required terms are missing, and add only the ones that are actually true. Agent Auto Hire does this automatically and shows you what changed and why, so the first rewrite doubles as a diagnostic.
Related questions
What ATS score should I aim for?
Above 85 against that specific posting. Below 70 you are usually filtered before a human reads the resume.
PDF or DOCX?
Either works with modern systems as long as the PDF is text-based. When a posting names a format, follow the posting.
Do I need a different resume for every job?
You need a different top third — summary, skills and the first two bullets of your most recent role. That is where relevance is decided.
Read next
See where your resume stands — free
One AI rewrite and an ATS score against the roles you want, with no card required.
- Free plan, no card required
- ATS score in under a minute
- Cancel anytime