How to Write an ATS-Compliant Resume

I’ve cracked the ATS every single time I’ve applied for a job. And now I help my clients do the same. The biggest reason your resume doesn’t convert is not a lack of qualifications or achievements. It’s because the ATS couldn’t “read” your value. Here's a before vs after resume of one of my clients. I break down what I help her change to land multiple interviews with the top companies. ❌ OLD RESUME → Wordy and vague summary → Skills and tools scattered all over the place → Projects buried too deep → Too much jargon, too little clarity → 2+ pages, cluttered and overwhelming ✅ NEW RESUME → 1-page, crisp and focused → Summary shows clear value with metrics (70% optimization, 67% user acceptance) → Skills grouped logically for ATS scan → Projects written like achievements—not just tasks → Uses job-relevant keywords like: “multi-GPU computing,” “transformer,” “YOLO,” “streamlit,” “Docker,” and “fine-tuning LLMs” So, what actually makes a resume pass the ATS? It’s these 4 things: 🔹 Be keyword-rich (based on the JD) 🔹 Have clean formatting (no fancy design, no tables) 🔹 Show quantifiable outcomes (not just responsibilities) 🔹 Stay under 2 pages (ideally 1, unless you’re senior) 5 reasons the ATS might reject your resume: → PDF formatting with images or charts → No job-specific keywords → Generic summaries without context or metrics → Listing duties instead of results → Skills thrown randomly instead of categorized Your resume isn’t a biography. It’s your marketing tool. And if the system can’t read it, no human ever will. If you’re job hunting and not getting interviews, it’s time to change your resume - not your dreams. P.S. I help tech professionals in the U.S. and Canada land their dream jobs. Drop me a DM, if you need more clarity and help in your job search.

I just discovered why my client wasn't getting any interviews. She was using the wrong keywords. For 8 months, she'd been applying to "Digital Marketing Manager" roles. Her resume said: "Marketing Specialist with expertise in online advertising and social media management." The problem? Recruiters weren't searching for "online advertising." They were searching for "PPC." They weren't looking for "social media management." They were looking for "paid social." Her skills were perfect. Her language was wrong. Here's what we changed: ❌ "Online advertising" → ✅ "Google Ads, Facebook Ads, PPC" ❌ "Social media management" → ✅ "Paid social, organic social, community management" ❌ "Data analysis" → ✅ "Google Analytics, conversion tracking, ROI optimization" ❌ "Content creation" → ✅ "Content marketing, copywriting, A/B testing" Within 2 weeks: 5 interview requests. Same person. Same skills. Different keywords. Here's what most people don't understand about ATS systems: They're not smart. They're literal. If the job posting says "Salesforce" and your resume says "CRM software," you won't match. If they want "project management" and you wrote "managed projects," you're invisible. The ATS doesn't care about synonyms. It cares about exact matches. How to keyword-optimize your resume in 10 minutes: 1. Copy 5 job postings for your target role 2. Highlight the repeated technical terms 3. Count which skills appear most frequently 4. Replace your generic terms with their specific language 5. Use their exact phrasing, not your interpretation Stop writing your resume in your language. Start writing it in their language. Because the best resume in the world is useless if the ATS can't find it. Your job isn't to be creative with vocabulary. Your job is to speak the same language as the job posting. Need help identifying the right keywords for your industry? I'm offering FREE resume audits this week where I'll analyze 10 resumes and discuss all the gaps. Comment and send me your resume. Stop being invisible. Start being searchable. #Keywords #ATS #Resume #JobSearch #GetFound #ResumeWriting

You applied to 100+ jobs but no interviews? Here's what's actually happening. Your experience is valuable. You're just invisible. Let me explain why, and how to fix it. When you apply online, your resume goes into a database called an ATS (Applicant Tracking System). Think of it like a massive filing cabinet. Now here's the key: Some recruiters don't read every resume. They search. Just like you search Google, they search their database: "Python AND data analysis" "SAFe AND agile transformation" "Tableau AND dashboard" If your resume doesn't have their exact search terms, you’re making it harder to get discovered. You're not rejected. You're just not found. But here's the secret: The job description often tells you EXACTLY what keywords they'll search for. It's like having the answer key. Example from a real job posting: If they say "Experience with Snowflake required"... → They'll search "Snowflake" → Make sure you write "Built data warehouse in Snowflake…" Not "cloud database" or "modern data platform." Use their exact words: Snowflake. I've mapped out 80 keywords that get candidates noticed in 2025: Top searches happening right now: • Python, TensorFlow, LangChain (AI roles) • Kubernetes, Terraform, Docker (tech leadership) • Power BI, Tableau, SQL (data leadership) • SAFe, Agile, DevOps (transformation roles) Your action plan: 1. Read the job description carefully 2. Circle every tool, platform, or methodology mentioned 3. Add those EXACT terms to your resume (if you have that experience) 4. Use them naturally in your accomplishments Example: Instead of: "Led team through digital modernization" You say: "Led SAFe agile transformation using ServiceNow and Jira, reducing delivery time by 40%" You have the experience. Now make it searchable. Your next role isn't rejecting you. It just hasn't found you yet. You’ve got this! 💡 Save this cheat sheet of 80 searchable keywords ♻️ Share to help someone in your network Follow me for more insider recruiting insights