{"id":195,"date":"2026-06-13T05:02:46","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T05:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T01:02:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T01:02:52","slug":"how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Your Resume Past ATS Filters"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Get Your Resume Past Ats Filters is a key focus of this guide. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting your resume past Applicant Tracking Systems is the first hurdle in any modern job search. Most candidates write resumes for human readers and then wonder why they never hear back. Here is how to write for both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/resume-writing.jpg\" alt=\"Person writing and reviewing a resume on paper\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#How_ATS_systems_actually_work\" >How ATS systems actually work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#Keyword_matching_is_the_core_mechanism\" >Keyword matching is the core mechanism<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#File_format_matters_for_ATS_parsing\" >File format matters for ATS parsing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#Formatting_rules_for_ATS_compatibility\" >Formatting rules for ATS compatibility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#Skills_section_optimization\" >Skills section optimization<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#After_you_optimize_check_your_work\" >After you optimize, check your work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#Read_next\" >Read next<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#How_long_does_a_recruiter_spend_looking_at_a_resume\" >How long does a recruiter spend looking at a resume?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#What_do_recruiters_look_for_first_on_a_resume\" >What do recruiters look for first on a resume?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#Should_I_include_a_summary_at_the_top_of_my_resume\" >Should I include a summary at the top of my resume?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#How_many_bullet_points_should_each_job_have\" >How many bullet points should each job have?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/#Get_your_free_resume_review_from_a_real_recruiter\" >Get your free resume review from a real recruiter<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_ATS_systems_actually_work\"><\/span>How ATS systems actually work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Applicant Tracking Systems parse your resume into structured data fields and compare those fields against the requirements of the job posting. They assign relevance scores based on keyword matches, required qualifications, and experience levels. Low-scoring resumes are often filtered out before a human reviewer sees them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ATS systems are not perfectly intelligent. They make mistakes. A resume with unusual formatting can confuse the parser and produce garbled data. A resume missing key terms can be scored as unqualified even when the candidate is a strong fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding what the system is looking for, and giving it exactly that, is the strategic approach. This does not mean gaming the system. It means communicating clearly in the language employers use to describe what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keyword_matching_is_the_core_mechanism\"><\/span>Keyword matching is the core mechanism<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most important thing you can do for ATS performance is include the specific keywords that appear in the job description. If the posting says &#8216;Salesforce&#8217; and your resume says &#8216;CRM software,&#8217; the system may not connect them. Use the exact terms employers use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Primary keywords are typically job titles, required skills, tools, and technologies. Secondary keywords include industry terminology, methodologies, and soft skills. Both matter, but primary keywords have more weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read five to ten similar job postings and identify the terms that appear consistently. Those recurring terms represent what the industry considers standard qualifications for your role. Include all of them that apply to your background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"File_format_matters_for_ATS_parsing\"><\/span>File format matters for ATS parsing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Submit a Word document unless the application specifically requires PDF. Modern ATS systems handle both, but Word documents are more reliably parsed. PDFs can cause issues if they were created with design tools that generate complex formatting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Never submit an image-based PDF. A scanned resume or a PDF created from an image cannot be read by ATS software. The entire document becomes invisible to the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Test your resume by copying the full text and pasting it into Notepad. If the text reads cleanly from top to bottom in logical order, your resume will likely parse correctly through most ATS systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Formatting_rules_for_ATS_compatibility\"><\/span>Formatting rules for ATS compatibility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use a single-column layout. Two-column resumes are read left-to-right by ATS systems, which means the content from column one and column two gets merged together and often becomes incoherent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Avoid tables, text boxes, headers, footers, graphics, and images in the main content area. These elements either get skipped or garbled by most parsers. Put all your important information in the main body of the document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use standard section headings. ATS systems are programmed to look for headings like &#8216;Work Experience,&#8217; &#8216;Education,&#8217; &#8216;Skills,&#8217; and &#8216;Summary.&#8217; Creative headings may not be recognized and could result in your content being miscategorized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Skills_section_optimization\"><\/span>Skills section optimization<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Include a dedicated skills section with a comprehensive list of your technical and professional skills. This gives ATS systems a clean, scannable source for keyword matching without requiring them to extract skills from your bullet points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Organize your skills by category: technical skills, software and tools, certifications, languages. This helps both ATS systems and human readers find what they are looking for quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Update your skills section for each application. Add skills from the job description that you genuinely have. Remove skills that are not relevant to this specific role. A skills section that matches the job posting closely improves your relevance score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"After_you_optimize_check_your_work\"><\/span>After you optimize, check your work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use a tool like Jobscan to compare your resume to the specific job description you are applying for. It will show you your match score and identify which keywords are missing. This is a quick sanity check that can significantly improve your results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Submit the same resume to a few different ATS-based applications and track your response rate. If you are getting below 10 percent callback rates on applications you are qualified for, your ATS optimization needs work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember that ATS optimization is the entry fee, not the winning strategy. A resume that scores well in ATS but reads poorly to a human still will not get you an interview. Optimize for both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Read_next\"><\/span>Read next<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list atr-read-next\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/ats-friendly-resume-tips\/\">How to Write an ATS-Friendly Resume That Actually Gets Read<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/best-resume-format-ats-2025\/\">The Best Resume Formats for ATS in 2025 and Beyond<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/sales-resume-guide-2\/\">Sales Resume Guide: How to Write a Resume That Proves You Can Close<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_a_recruiter_spend_looking_at_a_resume\"><\/span>How long does a recruiter spend looking at a resume?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recruiters typically spend 6-10 seconds on an initial scan. They look for job title relevance, company names, and whether the most recent role is at the right level for the position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_recruiters_look_for_first_on_a_resume\"><\/span>What do recruiters look for first on a resume?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most recruiters look first at your most recent job title and company, then check dates for gaps or progression, then assess whether the experience level matches what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_include_a_summary_at_the_top_of_my_resume\"><\/span>Should I include a summary at the top of my resume?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, for experienced candidates. A 2-3 sentence summary that speaks directly to your target role helps recruiters understand your value instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_many_bullet_points_should_each_job_have\"><\/span>How many bullet points should each job have?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3-5 bullets for recent roles, 1-2 for older ones. Each bullet should describe an accomplishment or outcome, not just a task or responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_your_free_resume_review_from_a_real_recruiter\"><\/span>Get your free resume review from a real recruiter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At AskTheRecruiter.com, every review is done by a human recruiter with real hiring experience. You get honest, specific feedback on what to fix, not a generic score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No automated tools, no templates. Just a recruiter reading your resume and telling you what needs to change. Most candidates hear back within 24 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-red-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"\/get-your-resume-reviewed\/\">Get My Free Resume Review<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"atr-schema-jsonld\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How long does a recruiter spend looking at a resume?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Recruiters typically spend 6-10 seconds on an initial scan. They look for job title relevance, company names, and whether the most recent role is at the right level for the position.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What do recruiters look for first on a resume?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Most recruiters look first at your most recent job title and company, then check dates for gaps or progression, then assess whether the experience level matches what they need.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Should I include a summary at the top of my resume?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, for experienced candidates. A 2-3 sentence summary that speaks directly to your target role helps recruiters understand your value instantly.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many bullet points should each job have?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"3-5 bullets for recent roles, 1-2 for older ones. Each bullet should describe an accomplishment or outcome, not just a task or responsibility.\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Resume Writing\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/category\/resume-writing\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How to Get Your Resume Past ATS Filters\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-resume-past-ats-filters\/\"}]}]}<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ATS software screens resumes before humans see them. Here is exactly how to format and write for ATS success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":611,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[28,25,27,16],"class_list":["post-195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-resume-writing","tag-ats","tag-job-application","tag-recruiter-tips","tag-resume-writing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5403,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195\/revisions\/5403"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}