What is ATS? How to make your resume ATS-friendly in 2026
Starting your career can be exciting but also challenging, especially with little or no work experience. This guide shows how to apply for an internship without experience, what recruiters look for, and how to build a strong foundation. Whether you are exploring internships for freshers or improving your resume with ATS tips, you will find practical advice to get started.
Table of Contents
1. What is an ATS and How Does It Work?2. How to Make Your Resume ATS Friendly
3. ATS-Friendly Resume Templates
4. ATS Resume Tips for Freshers and Experienced Professionals
5. Common ATS Resume Mistakes to Avoid
6. How to Test Your Resume for ATS Compatibility
7. Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ATS and how does it work?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by recruiters and employers to collect, scan, and rank job applications. Instead of reviewing every resume manually, the ATS filters applications based on keywords, skills, qualifications, and experience relevant to the job role.
Understanding how an ATS works can help job seekers tailor their resumes effectively. When you apply for a job online, the ATS parses your resume, extracts data such as your name, contact details, skills, education, and work experience, and compares them against the job description.
If your resume includes the right keywords and follows the correct format, it moves to the next stage where a recruiter reviews it manually. If not, it might never reach a human reader — even if you are highly qualified.
💡 Pro Tip: Use variations of keywords and job-specific phrases naturally throughout your resume. For example, if the job description mentions “data analysis” and “data insights,” including both terms increases the chances the ATS recognises your relevant experience.
Now that you understand how an ATS evaluates resumes, the next step is learning how to make your resume work effectively for both the system and recruiters.
How to make your resume ATS friendly
Creating a resume that works for both ATS and recruiters is about clarity, relevance, and demonstrating your abilities. The goal is to make your skills and achievements immediately visible while ensuring the system recognises key information.
Key practices to follow to make your resume ATS friendly:
- Highlight key skills and achievements clearly
- Use concise bullet points for easy scanning
- Incorporate job-specific keywords naturally
- Focus on measurable results rather than just duties
- Keep formatting simple and consistent
- Save your file with a professional and descriptive name
With these core principles in mind, it is important to understand which resume formats and structures help the ATS read your profile accurately.
Best resume format and structure for ATS optimisation
The layout of your resume directly impacts ATS readability, so it is important to follow clear guidelines that help both the system and recruiters understand your profile quickly. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- Use a simple, clean layout with standard section headings like Education, Experience, and Skills.
- Avoid columns, graphics, and tables — these can break the parsing process.
- Stick to chronological or combination (hybrid) formats. Functional resumes are less compatible with ATS.
- Maintain consistent font type (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman) and font size between 10–12 points.
- Save your file using a clear name: Firstname_Lastname_Role.docx.
Explore the Best Resume Formats that are proven to perform well across ATS platforms
💡 Pro Tip: Always preview your resume on multiple devices or upload it to a free ATS simulator. This helps ensure that formatting, headings, and keywords are correctly read by the system before you submit your application.
A well-structured format is only effective if you also use the right keywords and phrases throughout your resume.
How to use the right keywords and phrases in your resume
ATS systems scan resumes for keywords to determine whether a candidate aligns with a job role. Using the right terms strategically increases your chances of passing automated filters and catching a recruiter’s attention.
- Extract relevant keywords directly from the job description.
- Include variations of terms (e.g., “Project Management” and “Project Planning”).
- Repeat important keywords naturally throughout your Experience, Skills, and Summary sections.
- Use action verbs such as “developed,” “implemented,” or “managed” to show achievement.
Read more about Skills to Write in Resume to understand how to optimise this section effectively.
💡 Pro Tip: Highlight your top 5–10 job-specific skills in the first half of your resume. ATS and recruiters often give more weight to keywords listed early in your document.
Keywords and phrasing matter, but so do the file type and submission method to ensure ATS compatibility.
Recommended file types and submission tips for ATS resumes
File format compatibility is crucial for ATS readability.
- Use .docx unless the job posting specifically requests a PDF.
- Avoid complex formatting, headers, or footers that may confuse parsing.
- Ensure your contact details are in the main body, not in headers or text boxes.
- Double-check your resume layout before submitting it to online portals.
Beyond format, the content itself plays a critical role in how your resume performs.
Resume content best practices to beat the ATS
Your resume should immediately show both machines and recruiters why you are a strong fit. Well-structured, focused content ensures key skills, achievements, and experience are easy to find and recognise, increasing the chances of moving to the next stage.
- Focus on clear, concise, and relevant information.
- Start bullet points with strong verbs and quantify achievements where possible.
- Avoid jargon or overly creative phrasing that an ATS might not interpret.
- Ensure consistent formatting for dates, roles, and company names.
- Highlight skills and outcomes from each role or project.
A dedicated skills section further boosts ATS recognition and makes your strengths stand out to recruiters.
How to write the skills section for ATS-friendly resumes
A well-crafted skills section can significantly improve your ATS score while making it easy for recruiters to recognise your strengths at a glance. It demonstrates both your technical expertise and your ability to contribute effectively in a professional setting.
- Create a dedicated skills section with both technical and soft skills.
- List skills in bullet points for better readability.
- Use exact keywords from job descriptions to enhance match rates.
- Include relevant tools, software, or certifications to show proficiency.
For more on aligning your skills with interviews, explore Interview Preparation Tips. With skills highlighted, the template you use can make or break ATS compatibility.
ATS-friendly resume templates
The right resume template can significantly improve how well your application performs with ATS. A clean, structured format ensures the system reads all sections correctly while making your profile easy for recruiters to scan.
- Choose single-column templates with straightforward layouts.
- Keep consistent spacing and bullet points.
- Avoid using colours or background shading.
- Use ATS-tested resume builders or formats from trusted career platforms.
You can also customise templates based on your experience level — minimalistic layouts work best for both freshers and professionals.
ATS resume tips for freshers and experienced professionals
A well-optimised resume looks different for every stage of your career. For freshers, it is about showcasing potential and transferable skills. For experienced professionals, it is about proving impact and expertise. Here is how you can make your resume stand out for both the ATS and the recruiter.
For freshers:
- Focus on academic projects, internships, and certifications.
- Highlight transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability.
- Use entry-level role keywords to boost ATS visibility.
For experienced professionals:
- Prioritise quantifiable achievements and leadership experience.
- Highlight expertise in domain-specific tools, methodologies, and roles.
- Tailor every application to the job posting for better keyword alignment.
While optimising for ATS, avoid these common mistakes to improve your chances of making it to a recruiter’s desk.
Common ATS resume mistakes to avoid
- Using graphics, icons, or multiple columns that confuse ATS scanners.
- Forgetting to customise resumes for each job description.
- Using vague phrases like “good communication” without examples.
- Submitting resumes with typos or inconsistent formatting.
- Ignoring ATS keywords or using them in the wrong context.
Avoiding these mistakes ensures that your resume passes ATS filters and reaches hiring managers.
How to test your resume for ATS compatibility
Before submitting your application, it is important to ensure your resume can be accurately read by ATS software. Even a strong resume may be overlooked if the system cannot parse it correctly or detect key information. Testing for ATS compatibility helps you identify gaps, improve keyword usage, and optimise formatting so your application reaches a human recruiter.
Here is how you can check your resume:
- Use free or paid ATS checker tools online to test keyword matching.
- Ensure the system reads all sections — especially Skills and Experience.
- Review your ATS score and update weak areas.
- Compare the parsed text output with your original resume to confirm accuracy.
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- Participate in hiring challenges and contests to showcase both technical and creative abilities
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- Access resources that link your skills to tangible, real-world opportunities
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Frequently asked questions
A score above 80 per cent is considered strong. Improve it by aligning keywords, optimising formatting, and focusing on role-relevant skills.
Modern ATS systems can, but not all. Use .docx if the recruiter has not specified a preferred format.
Ensure readability, keyword accuracy, and consistent formatting. Always review for spelling and grammar errors.
ATS identifies the best-fit candidates by matching keywords with job descriptions. The more accurate your match, the higher your ranking.
Chronological and hybrid resume formats work best with ATS because they organise your work experience clearly and logically. These formats make it easier for the system to identify your roles, achievements, and relevant skills.
Keywords are skills, tools, and qualifications mentioned in the job listing. Extract them manually or through online keyword tools.
Yes. Customising your resume for each job ensures higher keyword alignment and relevance, improving your ATS score.
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