How to Avoid Common ATS Mistakes and Get Your Resume Noticed

Sending out multiple resumes but not getting interviews? You might be facing rejection from applicant tracking systems (ATS) before a recruiter even sees your application.

These systems, designed to streamline the hiring process, can reject resumes with simple formatting errors or a lack of relevant keywords—regardless of your qualifications. But don’t worry! This guide will help you understand common ATS pitfalls and how to fix them.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• 11 ATS formatting mistakes to avoid
• How ATS analyze resumes
• An example of an ATS-friendly resume
  …and much more to boost your chances of landing an interview!

What Is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

Applicant tracking systems are software tools that analyze resumes to identify candidates who match the job requirements. They search for relevant keywords, job titles, and skills, assigning each application a “resume score.” This score determines whether your resume gets passed to a hiring manager or filtered out.

ATS tools save time by organizing resumes, ranking candidates, and eliminating those that don’t meet basic criteria. With such systems widely used—especially by larger companies—optimizing your resume for ATS is essential.

11 ATS Formatting Mistakes to Avoid

To get past the ATS, it’s important to sidestep common mistakes that can lower your resume score.

1. Placing Key Information in Headers or Footers

ATS often ignore content in headers or footers, which can lead to missing critical details like your name or contact info. Keep essential information in the main body of the document with proper margins.

2. Using Images or Graphics

Fancy visuals can confuse ATS, as they cannot process non-text elements. Stick to plain text for crucial information and leave design-heavy elements for your portfolio or LinkedIn.

3. Choosing Unreadable Fonts

Simplify your resume with ATS-friendly fonts like Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass, and maintain a consistent font size between 10–12 points. Avoid decorative fonts that could compromise readability.

4. Using Non-Standard Job Titles

Match the job title exactly as stated in the job posting. Creative titles like “Chief Happiness Officer” may confuse ATS looking for more conventional terms like “Human Resources Manager.”

5. Overusing Abbreviations and Acronyms

Always spell out terms at least once (e.g., Certified Public Accountant [CPA]) to ensure ATS recognize them. This is particularly important when targeting roles in different industries.

6. Incorrect Date Formatting

Stick to ATS-compatible formats like MM/YYYY (e.g., 05/2022) or spell out the month (e.g., May 2022) for clarity.

7. Omitting Key Sections

ATS rely on standard resume sections like Contact Information, Work Experience, and Skills to categorize content. Ensure your resume includes all relevant sections with clear headings.

8. Lacking Relevant Keywords

Keywords from the job description (e.g., specific skills or certifications) are vital. Include these naturally throughout your resume, especially in the work experience section.

9. Skipping Proofreading

Typos can hurt your resume's professionalism and prevent ATS from recognizing keywords. Use tools like Grammarly and have someone review your resume for accuracy.

10. Submitting the Wrong File Format

PDFs are typically ATS-friendly, but some companies may request Word files. Always follow the job posting’s instructions to ensure compatibility.

11. Using Overly Complex Templates

Choose a clean, ATS-friendly layout with standard sections and clear fonts. Templates from trusted sources like Novoresume ensure your resume is easily parsed by ATS software.

How Does ATS Analyze Resumes?

ATS software scans resumes in these steps:

1. Categorization: Divides your content into sections like Work Experience and Skills using standard headers.
2. Keyword Matching: Identifies keywords and phrases that match the job description.
3. Resume Scoring: Assigns a score based on keyword alignment and formatting.
4. Filtering: Ranks resumes and filters out low-scoring applications.

By optimizing your resume for ATS, you can ensure it scores high enough to reach a recruiter’s desk.

Create an ATS-Friendly Resume Today

Want to maximize your chances of passing ATS? Use a clean, well-organized template that emphasizes relevant keywords and avoids formatting pitfalls. Tools like Novoresume’s free ATS-ready templates make it easy to create a professional resume that stands out—both to systems and recruiters.

Take the time to optimize your resume, and you’ll be one step closer to landing your dream job!

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