An applicant tracking system (ATS) can block your resume before a recruiter ever reads it. This guide shows you how to beat the ATS in 2023 by using an ATS-friendly format, matching the job description with the right keyword choices, and making sure your resume gets seen by a human.
Key takeaways
- Use a clean, single-column resume format so the ATS can parse your content correctly.
- Mirror important keywords and job title wording from the job description to improve matching.
- Avoid fancy formatting (tables, columns, text boxes, icons) because many ATS struggle to read it.
- In 2023, Jobscan detected an ATS on 97.4% of Fortune 500 companies’ career sites, so ATS optimization is part of the job search.
- Build for both systems and people: your resume must scan well and still sound like you.
ATS: How does the applicant tracking system scan a resume?
An applicant tracking system is a software that companies use to collect job applications and search, filter, and rank applicants. It’s not a mind reader. It looks for structure (like headings and dates), then scans for keywords and key phrases that match the job posting.
In 2023, ATS usage is so common that it’s not just “big tech.” Jobscan’s ATS usage report found that 97.4% of Fortune 500 companies use a detectable ATS, which means your resume is often going through an ATS before any recruiter sees it.
That doesn’t mean the ATS automatically rejects everyone. It usually means your resume might get sorted low if the system can’t read it well or can’t find the match.
ATS-friendly resume format: what parses best in 2023?
If you want an ATS-friendly resume, start with a clean layout. Many ATS struggle to read tables and columns accurately, which can lead to missing or scrambled information. Parsing issues also show up when you use text boxes, icons, or complicated layouts, because the system reads in a different order than a human.
Here’s a simple table you can use to format your resume without breaking the scan.
| Resume element | ATS-safe choice | Risky choice |
| Layout | One column, left-aligned | Two columns/sidebars |
| Skills layout | Commas or line breaks | Tables for skills |
| Design | Minimal, readable font | Heavy graphics or icons |
| Sections | “Work Experience,” “Education,” “Skills” | Cute headings (“My Journey”) |
Keep your format boring so your content can do the work.
Keyword strategy: how to include the right keywords
A keyword is any skill, tool, certification, or phrase that the job description repeats. Your resume should include the right keywords in a natural way, especially in the skills section and work experience.
Start by reading the job description like a checklist. Pull out the important keywords (tools, systems, job title wording, and required skills), then weave those words into your bullet points where they honestly fit.
Avoid keyword stuffing. Stuffing can raise red flags for a recruiter, and it also makes your resume harder to read. Your best move is to use the exact words and phrases the employer used, then prove them with outcomes.
Tailor your resume: how to match the job fast
Tailor your resume for every job you truly want. That doesn’t mean rewriting your whole resume from scratch for each job application submission. It means customizing your top half and your most relevant bullets to match the job you’re applying for.
Use this quick method:
- Copy the job posting into a note.
- Highlight repeated skills, tools, and keywords from the job.
- Update your resume headline, skills section, and top 2–3 bullets to match the job description.
This is how you match the job description without burning hours on every resume. It’s also how you “tailor” without losing your voice.
Resume score: what it is (and what it isn’t)
A resume score is what you get from a resume scanner or ATS checker that compares your resume to a job description. Those tools can help you spot missing keywords, weak phrases, or formatting problems.
But a resume score isn’t the hiring manager’s decision. It’s just a signal that your resume might be easier for the ATS to read and easier for recruiters and hiring managers to search.
If you want to optimize your resume, use a score as a guide, not a guarantee. You can even use Jobscan once as a spot-check, but don’t chase a perfect number and forget readability.
Format your resume header and job titles correctly
Your header should be clean and simple: name, phone, email, city/state, and a URL if you want (like LinkedIn). If you hide key info in odd places, an ATS might not pick it up.
Job title wording matters too. If the job title in the posting says “Customer Success Manager” and your resume says “Client Happiness Hero,” the ATS may not match it well. You can keep your official title, but add a clarifier so the system and the recruiter understand the role.
Example: “Account Manager (Customer Success)” is still truthful and helps with matching.
Bullet points that prove qualification (not just tasks)
Most resumes fail because the work experience reads like a job description. Your bullet points should show results, scope, and proof.
Use a simple structure:
Action + what you did + tools/skills + result
Example: “Streamlined onboarding steps and reduced time-to-first-value by 20%.” That tells the ATS what you did (keyword match) and tells the hiring manager why it mattered.
Also, keep bullet points tight. If you bury the key phrases, the ATS may still find them, but a human recruiter will skim past them.
Resume template and resume builder: safe or risky?
A resume template can save time, but it can also sabotage you if it uses columns, tables, and text boxes. Jobscan warns that tables and columns can break ATS readability, so a “pretty” template can hurt your chances.
A resume builder can be helpful if it produces a clean, single-column export. The key is what you download: make sure your final file keeps selectable text and a simple structure.
Before you submit, run a basic test: copy and paste your resume into a plain text file. If the order is messy, your ATS scan may be messy too. Rezi’s ATS parsing guidance highlights layout problems as a common reason a parse fails.
LinkedIn: make it easier to recruit you
LinkedIn can support your application even when the ATS is the first gate. Add your LinkedIn profile URL in your header so a recruiter can quickly confirm who you are and what you do.
Keep your job titles consistent between LinkedIn and your resume. Consistency reduces confusion and helps your credibility during the hiring process.
Also, don’t treat LinkedIn like a copy of your resume. Use it to add context, projects, and outcomes that didn’t fit on one page.
Final checklist to pass the ATS in 2023
This is a short “submit-ready” checklist you can run in five minutes.
First, make sure your resume is ATS-friendly: one column, standard headings, and no graphics. Jobscan notes that complex formatting like tables, columns, and text boxes can confuse the ATS. Second, make sure your resume uses the same keywords from the job description (tools, skills, certifications, and the job title). Third, confirm your file type is readable and that your text can be selected and copied, since parsing issues can happen when the ATS can’t extract text properly.
If you do those three things, you put yourself in a much better position to pass the ATS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an ATS automatically reject you?
An ATS can filter, rank, and route applicants, and your resume can get deprioritized if it’s not readable or is not a match. Parsing failures can also cause missing data, which can hurt your chances.
Should you use tables on a resume?
It’s risky. Jobscan says most ATSs struggle to read tables and columns accurately, which can cause missing or scrambled data.
What’s the best ATS-friendly resume format?
A simple, single-column format with standard section headings tends to parse best. Jobscan and other ATS guidance emphasize avoiding complex formatting like graphics, tables, and columns.
Do you need a cover letter to beat applicant tracking systems?
A cover letter usually isn’t what helps you pass the ATS. Your resume does most of the matching, so focus there first, then use the cover letter to add context.
Is the “75% ATS rejection” stat real?
Many sources repeat it, but there’s no strong evidence that it’s a proven, universal rule, and some critics describe it as exaggerated folklore.
Conclusion
To beat applicant tracking systems in 2023, you don’t need tricks—you need clarity. Use an ATS-friendly resume format, match the job description with the right keywords, and write bullet points that prove you’re qualified. Do that, and your resume is far more likely to survive ATS screenings and reach a human recruiter.
If you want a resume that’s built to get past the ATS and still impress a hiring manager, reach out to Resume Fixer Upper for professional resume writing, cover letter help, and career services. You’ll get a resume that’s clean, strategic, and ready to submit.