Tips for Improving Your ATS Score

1600 people applied for a job → ATS rejected 1570 applications in 5 seconds → the hiring manager approved only 8, and the recruiter shortlisted just 5. Now this is why you are not able to land interviews. I’ve heard this so many times from job seekers, even from senior professionals: - ATS is BS - It’s all about luck - It doesn’t really matter how your resume looks Let me be honest with you it does matter. Almost every company, including top tech giants, uses some form of an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter and organize resumes. Hence, 90 out of 100 people get filtered out before their resume gets seen by a human. Now it's easy to blame companies for having such systems, but when you receive 100s of applications for a single role, you need automation to help. Blaming won't crack the system, but a strategy will do it. If you are not hearing from hiring managers and recruiters, maybe your resume is stuck in the ATS. Here's how I've helped 500+ professionals pass the ATS screening and land interviews. 1. Make your resume role-specific Most resumes try to be versatile for every role, but that doesn’t work. I helped candidates match their resumes to the exact job description. For a TPM role at Amazon, we used phrases like: → “Led ambiguity-heavy programs across 4+ teams using Agile/Scrum” → “Owned program execution tied to customer-facing delivery and ops efficiency” This mirrors what the JD asks for - and gets picked up by the ATS. 2. Replace tool-stacking with outcome-driven bullets Listing tools (Python, Docker, GCP…) isn’t enough. We rewrote those into impact. Example: → “Used GCP and Airflow to automate data pipelines, reducing report latency by 60%” Now the tools are backed by value. 3. Fix formatting issues that break parsing Many resumes get rejected because they use tables, columns, or PDFs that ATS tools can’t read. We cleaned layouts, used bullet-based formatting, removed visual blocks, and ensured each resume passed ATS parsing tests before sending. These aren’t hacks. They’re systems, and they work. Repost this to help someone struggling to land interviews. P.S. Follow me if you are a job seeker in the U.S. I share practical advice like this that helps you land your dream role.

"I can't get past the ATS* to even get an interview..." *𝘈𝘛𝘚 = 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 ***WARNING*** Tough love statement comin at ya in the next two lines 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘁 "𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗧𝗦", 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺'𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁...𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬: An ATS is just a glorified recruiting CRM* database; a tool used to organize open roles, take applications, manage candidates, and fill requisitions *𝘊𝘙𝘔 = 𝘊𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 Can an ATS scan for keywords on your resume? Sure it can Does the ATS remove a human from the process and do some super crazy secret analysis that no one understands to figure out the best candidate for the job? Nope, not at all 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀....𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀: 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬? You can 100% change what's happening with your applications 𝐁𝐚𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬? You're going to have to do some work to make that change 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭: 1. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 Have you narrowed down to one role? You need to. Pick a role that you want to go after - just one. Your odds of "beating the ATS" with a generalist resume that you're using to apply to six different types of jobs are slim to none. 2. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 Learn about the job *before* you build a resume and apply so you can use that intel to shape your resume and highlight the stuff that really matters. 3. 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 Make sure your bullet points are more than just a laundry list of tasks that you did in your past jobs - you need to call out your IMPACT (results). Your resume is a marketing/sales document- so you need to "sell" the results you could offer to your future employer and make it easy for them to say, "I'd want that person to work for me and get those types of results for my team!" If you were hiring me as a salesperson, would you rather know that I "Consistently exceeded sales quotas" or "Closed $10M in new business against a goal of $5M using social media selling techniques on LinkedIn". Same story, but the second example has IMPACT

Your resume isn't getting callbacks? Let's fix that. The brutal truth about SaaS hiring: ATS systems reject 75% of resumes before human eyes ever see them. Here's your CS resume gameplan: 1. Keywords Are King 👑 ↳ Mirror the job description language ↳ Include industry terms (QBR, ROI, CSAT) ↳ Name relevant tools (Salesforce, Gainsight) 2. Impact Over Tasks ⚡ ↳ "Increased retention by 15%" ↳ "Managed portfolio worth $2M ARR" ↳ "Reduced churn from 5% to 2%" 3. Success Stories 📈 ↳ Challenge faced ↳ Action taken ↳ Results achieved 4. Skills That Matter 🎯 • Relationship management • Strategic planning • Data analysis • Project leadership • Cross-functional collaboration 5. CS Language Patterns: OLD: "Helped customers" NEW: "Drove customer outcomes" OLD: "Fixed problems" NEW: "Mitigated risks proactively" OLD: "Had meetings" NEW: "Led strategic reviews" Pro Tips: ✅ Use a clean, ATS-friendly format ✅ Quantify everything possible ✅ Focus on business impact ✅ Show progression in roles ✅ Highlight relevant certifications Remember: Your resume isn't your life story. It's your marketing document. Make every word count. Make every bullet strategic. Need more help? Drop a 📄 below.

I spoke with a FAANG Recruiter and learned how they shortlisted candidates for interviews: The magic to get shortlisted is not 100% your talent. It's your resume! Section 1: The ATS Reality Check 70% of resumes die before human eyes see them. Here's what actually works: -- Standard headings: "Work Experience," "Skills," "Education" -- No fancy formatting that is not readable by the ATS System -- Keywords naturally woven into bullet points -- Clean, scannable layout Pro tip: Build your resume using LATEX. If it's still readable, it's ATS-friendly. Section 2: The 6-Second Recruiter Scan Here's what recruiters actually look for: 1. Clear job title matching the role 2. Recognizable company names 3. Relevant years of experience 4. Key skills matching the job description Pro Tip: Instead of: "Performed data analysis using Python", Write: "Developed predictive churn model using XGBoost that improved customer retention by 18%, generating $450K in annual recurring revenue" Numbers talk. Everything else is noise. Section 3: The Referral Hack The truth: Almost 50% of hires come from referrals. Here's the strategy for getting solid referrals: → Reach out to professionals on LinkedIn from Target Companies → Keep it short & specific → Mention the exact role you’re applying for → Show company knowledge (Not just “I love Tesla” – be specific!) → Request a quick chat, NOT just a referral The Bottom Line: Your resume isn't a comprehensive work history. It's a document designed to get your foot in the door. Make every word count → Lead with impact →  Get referred when possible. You've mastered the hardest part (the skills). Don't let a weak resume hold you back. BONUS: If you're struggling with crafting a ATS Friendly resume, Try Wisedoc, Inc.’s AI tools to optimize your profile and increase callbacks in your job search. Try it here: https://lnkd.in/g3neHw2Y If you found this useful, then please: ♻️ Repost to help others in your network 💭 Tag someone you know or Comment “CFBR” below I hope this helps, All the best! P.S: I post FREE job search tips and resources. Connect with me for more such resources daily.

We all know that the first step of looking for a job is having a resume that passes the #ATS! Did you think I was going to say one that expertly and succinctly illustrates the value and impact you created throughout your career? Yes, that is important too, but first you need to think about how you will get your impactful resume past that dreaded ATS! To help you check if your resume is ATS-worthy, here are a few tips: 1. Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description 💎 Tip: Customize your resume for each job application. (I know it’s annoying!) Carefully review the job description and include relevant keywords and phrases that match the role. This increases the chances of passing the ATS filters. 🔥 Action: Highlight specific skills, experiences, and accomplishments that align with the job requirements. Use exact keywords from the job posting. 2. Use a Clean & Professional Layout 💎 Tip: A well-organized resume with a clear, professional design can make a strong impression. Avoid overly complex formatting, graphics, or unusual fonts, as they can confuse the ATS. 🔥 Action: Stick to standard resume formats (chronological, functional, or combination). Use bullet points, consistent headings, and a readable font (e.g., Arial, Calibri). 3. Focus on Achievements, Not Just Responsibilities 💎 Tip: Highlight your accomplishments rather than just listing job duties. Quantifiable achievements demonstrate your impact and value to potential employers. 🔥 Action: Use action verbs and metrics to showcase your achievements. For example, "Increased sales by 20% through strategic marketing initiatives." 4. Include Relevant Keywords 💎 Tip: Incorporate keywords related to the job and industry throughout your resume. This helps the ATS identify your resume as a good match for the position. 🔥 Action: Use keywords naturally in your skills, experience, and summary sections. Avoid keyword stuffing, as it can make your resume difficult to read. 5. Proofread and Edit Thoroughly 💎 Tip: Spelling and grammatical errors can make a negative impression and potentially disqualify your resume. Proofread carefully to ensure it's error-free. 🔥 Action: Use tools like Grammarly for initial checks, but also manually review your resume. Consider having a friend or mentor review it as well for a fresh perspective. Bonus Tips: 💎 Use a naming convention that is memorable for others: Malik_resume_LD_CompanyX.pdf 💎 Use PDF formats when sharing your resume via email or ATS – this preserves your fonts and formatting. If you have any other resume tips, please feel free to share in the comments – let’s support each other in landing those dream jobs! But first…let’s get past that ATS! You got this! #ResumeTips #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #ATS #JobHunting #InterviewTips #CareerGrowth #ATStips #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment #GrowthMindedConsulting GrowthMinded Consulting LLC

My Resume Has A 95% ATS-Score And I Still Didnt Get The Job?! This is one of many common misconceptions I hear and see. A high ATS score alone isn't enough to catch your readers attention. And simply stuffing your resume with keywords won't make you stand out. We need to strategically place keywords throughout our resume. Even with a low ATS score, your resume has a very high chance of still being seen, especially if you meet the minimum requirements. The issue isn't just keywords; it's how you use and tailor them to the job application to showcase your value. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞 4 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 1) 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 - While it's not mandatory, having a career summary can be helpful. - Utilize this section to position common keywords like "project manager," and "leadership". - Keep it concise and not a means to create a long list. ➡Diverse 𝐈𝐓 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 with 8 years of experience...Utilizing 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 for iterative...Leveraging skills in 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬-𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩... 2) 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 - Use this area to quickly convey your key industry expertise in just a few words. ➡𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 With 𝐒𝐃𝐋𝐂 & 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 Expertise 3) 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 - Use this section to describe your role's purpose and include two to three additional keywords per job title. ➡Managed 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞-𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 to...focusing on 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 for critical DoD...while monitoring 𝐜𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬... 4) 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 - Highlight accomplishments instead of generic details in your resume bullets - Strategically include keywords to enhance your ATS score and showcase tailored value to potential employers ➡Led 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬-𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 of 20...ensured 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 through Value Stream Mapping... increased 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 by 5 hours weekly (35%)... Resume styles differ, but prioritizing the human touch is essential. While others may rely on lists of buzzwords, aim to stand out by demonstrating genuine value to the reader and company. ----- 🔎If you are looking to improve or pivot into a PM Career, contact me or Avalon Grade Solutions for services that will give you the confidence and control you seek for a brighter future. 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝑷𝑴 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 & 𝑻𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑰𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 #projectmanagement #jobseekers #careers #resume #ATS

🌟🔍 As both a job seeker and a recruiter, I've experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) in the job search process. Let me tell you, it can feel like a maze at times, but fear not! I'm here to shed some light on this often mysterious aspect of job hunting. 💼💡 When I was on the job hunt, I quickly realized the importance of understanding how ATS works. These systems are designed to help recruiters manage the overwhelming influx of applications they receive for each job posting. But as a job seeker, it's crucial to know how to optimize your application to ensure it gets noticed amidst the sea of resumes. As a recruiter, I've seen firsthand how ATS can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it streamlines the hiring process, allowing us to efficiently screen and review candidates. On the other hand, it can inadvertently filter out qualified candidates if their resumes aren't properly formatted or optimized for ATS algorithms. So, what can you do to ensure your resume makes it past the ATS gatekeepers? Here are a few tips: 📌 Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume for each job application by incorporating relevant keywords from the job description. This not only helps your resume get past ATS filters but also demonstrates your fit for the role. 📌 Optimize Formatting: Use a clean and simple resume format with standard fonts and headings. Avoid graphics, images, and fancy formatting that may confuse ATS algorithms. 📌 Use Standard File Formats: Save your resume as a PDF or Microsoft Word document to ensure compatibility with ATS systems. Avoid using uncommon file formats that may not be compatible with all systems. 📌 Proofread Carefully: Check your resume for spelling and grammatical errors before submitting it. ATS algorithms can flag typos and errors, potentially causing your application to be overlooked. 📌 Network: Whenever possible, leverage your network to bypass ATS altogether. Networking and referrals can often lead to opportunities that may not be advertised publicly. Navigating ATS can be daunting, but with the right strategies and mindset, you can optimize your chances of getting noticed by recruiters and landing your dream job. Remember, it's not just about meeting the qualifications; it's about understanding how to navigate the digital landscape of the job market effectively. Let's unlock your potential together! 💪✨ #JobSearch #ResumeTips #CareerAdvice

As I'm doing more and more resume reviews, numerous have said "I keep getting blocked by #ATS." So, what do you do? Well...let's first consider some context: • ATSs are not the sole enemy; this market has been super tough and there have been a whole ton of candidates per job (duh, we know this) • Not all ATSs have AI/auto-reject functions via keywords (ie: LinkedIn and the ATS I use don't even have that ability unless it's for out-of-country candidates who require sponsorship and it's a US-only job) • Do ATSs still have that ability though? Of course; it's just more common with larger companies/corporations than it is with recruiting agencies, startups, etc. where we do look through the apps Keeping this in mind, there are still some items in your resume that you can improve on if you are getting stuck with the apps, having to repeat info, the bullets on your resume aren't inputting correctly into the ATS, etc. These are some common culprits I've noticed: • Text boxes: Inconvenient (I know) but ATSs are not always smart enough to read that information correctly as what you intend (it may miss it entirely) • Font & color: Unless you're a UX designer or someone who needs a level of creativity to your resume, blue text and any other font besides Times or Helvetica have given people trouble (the more boring the better) • Columns: Same as text boxes, anything that's deviating from just normal left to right lines in a Word doc can be problematic • Word or Pages: Submitting not in PDF form (though doesn't seem like a big deal) can cause conversion issues when uploading and it looks different to the recruiter than what the candidate originally submitted As always with my tips, these are just options for you to consider. Not end-all-be-all situations as to why you're getting rejected. Happy to answer any questions in the comments below! #resumetips

Over the last few years, I have guided multiple Masters students in the US to navigate their job search journey. There are a lot of common patterns I have seen which need to change. The process of applying for a job and getting an offer requires a bit of a mindset shift. Through a series of posts, I will talk about my experience and what I feel is necessary to make your job search successful. This will be useful for people looking for internships as well as new grad/junior software roles. Stage 1.1 - Preparations <-> Resume This is arguably the most important item here. After applying for a position, the resume for most applications goes through an ATS system that assigns it a score. Once the score threshold is cleared, given the number of applications in the current job market, a recruiter will not spend more than 20 secs reviewing the same. You have exactly "20 seconds'' to impress the recruiter. So your resume needs to be extremely crisp in terms of the content. Tips to improve the contents of your resume. 1. One-Page resume Ensures that the most important things are captured in the first half of the resume 2. Mention the technologies used for each of the experiences. This helps particularly with the ATS system and also with associating the technologies used to solve a particular problem. 3. Sentence formation format <IMPACT> - <WORK DONE> Eg: "Increased revenue by 1%" by "building a system to create multi-parameter contextual ads delivery system." This showcases the outcome of your experience. 4. Experience trumps everything else Job experience is the most important part of your resume. This can be internship experience or any of the prior full time experience. Make sure to add good 4-5 points around what work you have done. Some points to improve the contents of the same would be to include the actual impact of your work, getting alignments and interacting with different teams/partners, improving/optimizing the code thereby reducing infra costs, adding alerting to detect failures early on etc. 5. KISS(Keep it simple, stupid) philosophy is widely used in the Software engineering field. Make sure that your resume does not have complex lines that makes it difficult for the reader to understand your experience. 6. Use PDF Word documents tend to have formatting issues when passed around depending on the editor the viewer opens it in. PDFs are best to avoid any such viewing issues. You can keep your resume in google docs and just export is as PDF everytime you need it. 7. Mentioning non-tech experience is generally not required. Projects have more value compared to these. So unless you need some fillers in your resume maybe don't mention non-tech experience. 8. Get your resume reviewed All the universities have a career center. There are advisors there that will help you with reviewing the same. In the next post we will dive into what the interview process looks like, and how to prepare for each of the steps.

The Applicant Tracking System doesn't hate you. While I don't LOVE the ATS because of it's complexity, I do understand it well, and I help clients every single day to land jobs using online applications. Check out these 8 truths about the ATS. 💻 Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are what you encounter any time you apply for a job online. They help hiring teams to organize the applicant pool and track candidates through the hiring lifecycle. Like every software application, they are only as effective as the way they are utilized. 💻 The Applicant Tracking System is a computer system and can only do what it is programmed to do by humans. As a computer system, it doesn't have personal feelings about applicants, or bias. Bias comes from humans who need to expand their experiences and thinking. 💻 The ATS is text-driven. It can't parse out information from text boxes and many still struggle with tables. Keep your resumes simple and text-driven. MOST online resume templates won't work well for the ATS. 💻 The ATS does not care about font color - you can absolutely add color to your resume. 💻 The ATS struggles with horizontal lines because they throw off the page definitions of your resume. However, you can use the shading tool in Word to create lines, and because it's simply seen as a highlight - it works in the ATS. 💻 The ATS can auto-reject candidates if programmed to do so, but it is based on candidates not meeting a certain criteria (like a degree) or having a specific skills. The only information the ATS has to go on is the text in your resume compared to the programmed required criteria. 💻 The ATS scores how well the words in your resume match the words in the job description. The system is not intuitive, so match the language in the job description as much as possible. 💻 Once a resume gets through the ATS, it still has to impress the hiring team, so trying to beat the ATS while sacrificing the integrity of your story won't work. 💻 Auto rejections happen for a lot of reasons, many don't have anything to do with your qualifications. It could be that the position closed or went on hold, the hired someone internally, a hiring freeze, the company lost a contract or major account, change in organizational leadership, mergers and acquisitions, strategic direction changes, or the job posting expired. If you get an auto-rejection email, it's totally OK to update your resume and re-submit for the job. I have worked with numerous clients where we redid their resume and they landed jobs they were previously auto-rejected for. #resume #ats #applicanttrackingsystem #resumes #jobseekers #jobsearchtips #jobsearchstrategies