ATS-Friendly Resume: Simple Formatting That Gets You Shortlisted

ATS-Friendly Resume: Simple Formatting That Gets You Shortlisted

An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) scans resumes before a human sees them. If your resume design is too fancy, the ATS may not read it properly, and you can lose opportunities even with strong skills. Use clean formatting: one column layout, standard headings (Skills, Experience, Education), and simple fonts. Add keywords from the job description naturally—especially tools, tech stacks, and role responsibilities. Save as PDF unless the company requests DOCX. Keep it achievement-based. Replace “responsible for” with measurable outcomes like “reduced turnaround time by 20%” or “handled 40+ tickets weekly.” A readable, keyword-aligned resume improves shortlisting dramatically.