What Is an ATS Resume? 7 Reasons Yours Gets Rejected (and How to Fix Them)
Quick answer: An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software that companies and job portals use to collect, scan and sort resumes before a recruiter sees them. An ATS-friendly resume uses a simple single-column layout, standard section headings, plain text instead of graphics, and the keywords from the job description.
What is an ATS and why does it matter?
When a job gets hundreds of applications, recruiters use an ATS to manage them. The software reads your resume, pulls out details like your name, skills, education and experience, and lets recruiters search and filter candidates. If the ATS cannot read your resume properly, your details may come out wrong or missing — and the recruiter may never find you in a search.
7 reasons an ATS rejects or misreads your resume
1. Two-column or table layouts
Many ATS tools read left to right, line by line. Two columns can get mixed together, so your skills end up inside your education. Fix: use one column.
2. Text inside images, icons or text boxes
Software often skips text inside images and graphic boxes. Skill bars and star ratings carry no readable information. Fix: write skills as plain text.
3. Unusual section headings
Headings like "My Journey" or "Where I've Been" confuse the parser. Fix: use standard headings — Experience, Education, Skills, Projects, Certifications.
4. Missing keywords from the job description
Recruiters search the ATS using the words in their job post. If the post says "Power BI" and your resume only says "dashboards", you may not show up. Fix: mirror the exact skill names you really have.
5. Contact details in the header or footer
Some systems ignore page headers and footers. Fix: put your name, phone and email in the main body at the top.
6. Wrong or unreadable file type
A scanned resume is just an image. Fix: upload a text-based PDF or a .docx file — whichever the portal asks for.
7. Fancy fonts and special characters
Decorative fonts and unusual bullet symbols can turn into garbage characters. Fix: use common fonts like Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman and simple round bullets.
How do I find the right keywords?
- Copy the job description and highlight every skill, tool and qualification.
- Mark the ones you actually have.
- Use those exact words in your Skills section and in your project or experience bullets.
- Include both the short form and full form once, for example "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)".
Do not copy the whole job description or add skills you do not have. A recruiter reads the resume after the ATS — and you will be asked about every skill in the interview.
ATS-friendly resume checklist
- Single-column layout
- Standard section headings
- No photos, icons, charts or skill bars
- Contact details in the body, not the header
- Keywords from the job post, used honestly
- Text-based PDF or .docx
- Simple font, 10–12 pt
- Dates in one consistent format (for example Jun 2024 – Mar 2025)
Does Naukri use ATS?
Job portals and many company career pages read the resume you upload to fill in your profile and help recruiters search candidates. The same rules apply: a clean, text-based resume is parsed more accurately. Always check your portal profile after uploading and correct anything that came out wrong.
Make an ATS-friendly resume on nm7.si
Every template in the nm7.si resume builder uses a single-column, text-based layout with standard headings, so both software and recruiters can read it.
Frequently asked questions
What does ATS stand for?
Applicant Tracking System — software that stores, scans and sorts job applications.
Is a PDF resume ATS-friendly?
A text-based PDF usually is. A scanned PDF or a PDF made from an image is not, because there is no text to read.
Can an ATS read a two-column resume?
Some can, many cannot do it reliably. A single column is the safe choice.
Should I use a different resume for every job?
Keep one base resume, then adjust your objective, skills and top bullet points to match each job post.
Is there a "perfect ATS score"?
No. Online ATS scores are estimates. Focus on clear formatting and honest, relevant keywords.