ATS Resume Checklist: 15 Things to Check Before You Apply

Match Keywords From the Job Description

This is the single most important item on the checklist. Open the job description, highlight the key terms, and make sure those exact words appear in your resume. Check for:

• Skills — "Project Management," "Customer Service," "CRM"
• Tools — "Excel," "Salesforce," "Slack"
• Certifications — "PMP," "CPA," "AWS Certified"
• Job titles — "Customer Service Representative," not just "CSR"

Don't paraphrase. If the job says "Project Management," write "Project Management" — not "led projects" or "managed initiatives." For a deeper dive, see our guide on resume keywords for ATS.

Include a Dedicated Skills Section

Don't bury your skills inside your experience bullet points. ATS systems look for a clearly labeled Skills section. Without one, the system may assume you don't have the required skills — even if they're mentioned elsewhere in your resume.

Keep it simple: list 8–15 relevant skills in a bulleted or comma-separated format under a "Skills" heading.

Use Standard Resume Section Headings

ATS systems are programmed to look for specific section names. Creative headings confuse them.

Use these: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications, Summary

Avoid these: My Journey, Professional Story, Career Highlights, What I Bring to the Table

Save the creativity for your portfolio. Your resume headings should be boring and obvious.

Use ATS-Friendly Resume Formatting

Formatting is where most ATS-compatible resumes go wrong. The system reads text left to right, top to bottom. Anything that disrupts that flow — columns, tables, text boxes, complex layouts — risks being misread or skipped entirely.

Stick to a single-column layout with clear headings, consistent spacing, and standard fonts. For a complete formatting walkthrough, see our ATS resume format guide.

Remove Graphics and Icons

Charts, icons, logos, progress bars, and other visual elements make your resume look polished to a human — but they're invisible to an ATS. If important information is conveyed through a graphic (like a skill level bar), the system won't see it. Remove all graphics and put that information into plain text.

Use Consistent Job Titles

Your job titles should be clear and recognizable. Use standard titles that match what employers and ATS systems expect to see.

Good: Customer Service Representative

Bad: Customer Happiness Ninja

If your actual title was unconventional, put the standard title first, then your real title in parentheses: "Customer Service Representative (Customer Happiness Lead)."

Optimize Your Resume Summary

Your summary is the first text an ATS reads after your name. It should include your experience level, key skills, and target role. A strong summary looks like this:

"Customer service professional with 5+ years of experience in CRM, client relations, and conflict resolution. Proven track record of improving customer satisfaction scores by 20%."

A weak summary looks like this: "Hardworking professional seeking new opportunities."

Include Relevant Hard Skills

Soft skills like "communication" and "teamwork" don't carry much weight with ATS systems. Hard skills do. Focus on:

• Software — "Photoshop," "QuickBooks," "Jira"
• Platforms — "AWS," "Shopify," "HubSpot"
• Technical skills — "Data Analysis," "SEO," "Project Management"

Each hard skill you list is a keyword the ATS can match against the job description.

Quantify Achievements

Numbers stand out — to both ATS systems and human readers. Whenever possible, replace vague statements with specific, measurable results:

• "Increased sales by 22%"
• "Managed 15 client accounts"
• "Reduced processing time by 18%"

Quantified achievements also signal competence and credibility to the recruiter who reads your resume after it passes the ATS.

Use Simple Bullet Points

Some ATS systems can't read special characters. Avoid symbols, arrows, emojis, or any non-standard bullet formatting. Use standard round bullets (•) or simple dash characters. Don't use custom icons or special formatting for your bullet points.

Add Certifications When Relevant

If the job description mentions certifications — or if certifications are standard in your industry — include them. Common examples:

• PMP (Project Management Professional)
• CPA (Certified Public Accountant)
• Google Analytics Certification
• AWS Solutions Architect

Certifications serve as both keywords and credibility signals. If you have them, list them.

Check File Format

The wrong file format can make your resume unreadable to an ATS. Follow these guidelines:

• PDF — best if the employer accepts it; preserves formatting
• DOCX — use if the employer specifically requests it
• Avoid — JPG, PNG, or any image-based format

Check the job posting for format requirements. If it doesn't specify, PDF is usually safe.

Remove Spelling and Grammar Errors

Spelling mistakes can prevent the ATS from matching your keywords. If you write "Managment" instead of "Management," the system won't match it to the keyword "Management" in the job description. Proofread every section carefully, and consider running your resume through a spell checker before submitting.

Tailor Your Resume for Every Application

Sending the same resume to every job is the most common mistake job seekers make. Each job description has different keywords, different required skills, and different priorities. A resume that scores 85 for one position might score 55 for another — not because your qualifications changed, but because the keywords did.

Customize your skills section, summary, and bullet points for each application. It takes extra time, but it makes a significant difference.

Review Your ATS Score Before Applying

Before you hit submit, run your resume through an ATS checker. This tells you exactly what's missing and what needs to be fixed — before the employer's ATS makes that decision for you. For help choosing the right tool, see our guide on the best ATS resume checker.