What is an ATS?
An applicant tracking system stores and sorts applications. Many parse your resume into fields (name, jobs, dates, skills) so recruiters can search. Clear headings, standard fonts, consistent dates and real text (not images) help parsing. What each system does with the result varies by employer.
Resume basics
- Use reverse-chronological order for experience.
- Use standard headings: Work Experience, Education, Skills.
- Keep one date format throughout.
- Avoid text boxes, tables and images for key information.
- Save and send as PDF unless the employer asks otherwise.
Tailoring honestly
Read the advert, note the skills it asks for, and make sure the ones you truly have are easy to find in your resume. Do not add skills you do not have.
Guides
- Career Change Resume GuideHow to present your experience when you are moving into a different field: lead with relevant skills, keep it truthful and tell a clear story.
- Cover Letter GuideA practical four-part structure for a clear, honest cover letter that you can use in any word processor.
- CV vs Resume: What Is the Difference?The words CV and resume mean different things in different countries. Here is how to tell which one an employer expects and how to prepare it.
- Free Resume BuilderCreate, edit and preview your resume free. Pay US$1 only if you download a PDF. No subscription and no hidden fees.
- International Resume BuilderResume and CV conventions by region: paper size, photos, personal details and length for the US, UK, Europe, the Gulf and India.
- Resume and CV Formats by CountryPage size, length, photos and personal details commonly seen on resumes and CVs in the UK, Europe, US, Canada, Australia and India. A guide, not a rulebook.
- Resume Builder for StudentsHow to write an honest, ATS-friendly resume with little or no work experience: what to include, how to describe projects, which template fits.
- Resume ExamplesPatterns for resume summaries and bullet points, with weak versus stronger wording. Use them as a guide and write only what is true for you.
- Resume Examples by RoleBullet-point patterns for common roles such as administration, customer service, sales, teaching, healthcare and software. Adapt them with your own true details.
- Resume Keywords and Job DescriptionsHow to find the terms a job advert uses, add the ones that truly describe your experience, and avoid keyword stuffing.
- Resume With No Experience: A Guide for FreshersHow to write an honest, readable resume when you have little or no paid work history: what to include, how to describe projects and what to leave out.
- UAE and GCC Resume Format GuideWhat employers in the UAE and wider Gulf commonly expect on a CV: length, personal details, photos and how to keep it ATS-friendly. Practices vary by employer.
- What Is an ATS and How Does It Read a Resume?A plain-language guide to applicant tracking systems: what they do, what makes a resume easy to parse, and the myths worth ignoring.