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| Bots prefer clean, simple resumes |
In this article I will explain how to write a resume that doesn’t get eaten alive by bots. Yup, bots. These little digital gatekeepers — also known as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) — are what most companies use to scan your resume before an actual human even lays eyes on it. And honestly? If your resume isn’t formatted the way they like or doesn’t have the right words, it might never get seen at all.
Wait... What Even Is an ATS?
Think of an ATS like a bouncer at a VIP club. You show up in your finest job-seeking outfit (your resume), but if you don’t say the right keywords at the door or show up looking weird (thanks, wacky formatting), the bouncer just shrugs and lets someone else in. Brutal, right?
Basically, ATS software scans resumes to filter out the ones that “don’t match” the job post. It's not smart — just picky. So, our job is to make yours match.
How to Create an ATS-Friendly Resume (That Still Looks Good)
Let’s make it simple. Here’s how to play nice with the bots without turning your resume into a robot manual.
Use Boring-but-Safe Headings
Forget the clever stuff. Use labels like:
- Work Experience
- Education
- Skills
- Certifications
If you get fancy with “My Story” or “Stuff I’ve Done,” the ATS might totally miss it. Bots aren’t into personality — at least not yet.
Match the Job Description Exactly
This is the golden rule. If the job ad says, "Looking for someone with project management experience," but your resume says, "Led projects," the ATS may not recognize the difference.
So copy the exact words from the job post when they apply to you. No shame. It’s not plagiarism — it’s strategy.
Related post: Resume Keywords: How to Use Them to Get Noticed
Keep It Simple, Formatting-Wise
No fancy layouts. No text boxes. No icons. No charts.
Pretend you're sending your resume to your grandma’s 15-year-old printer. If it confuses the machine, it will also confuses the ATS too.
Use:
- Bullet points
- Consistent fonts
- Left-aligned text
- No headers or footers
Save It Right
Stick with .docx or .pdf files — unless the job says otherwise. These are the formats ATS bots understand best. Think of it like speaking their language.
Want to Test Your Resume? Here’s a Hack
Copy and paste your entire resume into Notepad (yep, that plain old text editor). If it looks like a jumbled mess, it’s a warning sign the ATS might choke on it too.
Common Mistakes That Will Tank Your Resume
Let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot, shall we? Avoid these resume sins:
- Using tables or columns (they often scramble)
- Getting too creative with job titles
- Forgetting to match keywords
- Sending the same resume to every job listing
Wanna see more resume mistakes to avoid?
Resume Writing Tips: 5 Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
And if you’re applying to multiple jobs:
How to Customize Your Resume for Every Job
Conclusion:
I hope after reading this article you feel like you can finally beat the bots and stop sending your resume into the void. You don’t need a total resume makeover — just a few strategic tweaks, like using the right words, keeping your formatting clean, and ditching anything too “creative” for a robot to handle.
Think of it like translating your resume from “human” to “robot” so you can actually get to the next level: an interview with a real person.
You've got the skills. Now go make sure the bots know it too.