Hiring teams often use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes before a human ever sees them. The good news: you can optimize for ATS and stay readable, persuasive, and human.

1) Start with a clean, ATS-friendly structure

A simple format wins more interviews than a “creative” layout that can’t be parsed.

• Use one column (especially if you’re applying online)
• Stick to common headings: Summary, Experience, Skills, Education
• Save as PDF unless the job post requests a Word doc (some ATS handle .docx better)
• Avoid: tables, text boxes, icons, heavy graphics, and header/footer-only content

2) Write a summary that matches the role

Your summary should be a 3–4 line “positioning statement,” not your life story.

Try this mini-template:

• Role + domain: “Data analyst in fintech…”
• Top strengths: “SQL, dashboarding, stakeholder communication…”
• Proof: “Improved reporting cycle time by 30%…”
• Target: “Seeking to support product analytics at…”

3) Turn job descriptions into keyword checklists (ethically)

ATS isn’t looking for “buzzwords”—it’s looking for match signals.

• Highlight repeated phrases in the posting (tools, responsibilities, outcomes)
• Mirror the exact wording when it’s true for you (e.g., “customer lifecycle” vs. “customer journey”)
• Sprinkle keywords naturally across Summary, Skills, and Experience—not just a keyword dump

4) Make experience bullet points measurable and skimmable

Strong bullets combine action + scope + impact.

A solid formula: Verb + what you did + how + result

Examples:

• Reduced monthly close time by 25% by automating reconciliations in Excel/Power Query.
• Led a 6-person project team to launch a new onboarding flow, improving activation by 12%.

Tip: If you’re missing numbers, use proxies like time saved, volume handled, error rate, SLA, cycle time, revenue influenced.

5) Skills section: curated, not chaotic

Think of skills as a “quick match” section.

• Create categories: Tools, Technical, Methods, Soft Skills (only if relevant)
• Prioritize the top 8–15 most relevant skills for the role
• If a skill is important, show it in Experience too (proof beats claims)

Quick self-audit checklist

• Can a recruiter understand your role and impact in 15 seconds?
• Do your top keywords appear at least 2–3 times across sections (truthfully)?
• Are your bullets outcome-focused, not just task lists?

What role are you applying for right now—and what’s the one section of your resume you’re least confident about?