Does an ATS automatically reject resumes?

Sometimes an application is rejected automatically, but usually because of the employer's settings, not because software "read" your resume and judged it. The most common automatic rejections come from knockout questions: for example, if you answer "No" to "Do you have the right to work in this country?" or "Do you hold the required licence?", the system may be set to decline the application.

Beyond that, many employers use their ATS to sort, search and rank candidates rather than to reject them outright. A recruiter might search for certain skills or job titles, or look first at candidates the system lists as a closer match, and then make their own decision.

Products differ, and employers configure them differently, so nobody can say exactly what happens with every application. What you can control:

• Answer screening questions accurately.
• Use a clean, text-based resume so your skills and titles are read correctly.
• Include the relevant terms from the posting that truly describe your experience.
• Apply to roles where you meet the core requirements.