What is an ATS-Friendly Resume and How to Create One?

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In today’s digital job market, getting your resume into the hands of a hiring manager isn’t as simple as hitting “send.” Before your resume is seen by a human, it often has to pass through a gatekeeper — the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). At Shine Right Consultant, we help job seekers craft resumes that not only look great but also perform well in ATS scans, increasing the chances of getting shortlisted.

In this blog, we’ll explore what an ATS-friendly resume is, why it matters, and how you can create one that beats the bots and impresses recruiters.

What is an ATS?

ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software used by employers to scan, filter, and rank resumes before a human recruiter sees them. It works like a search engine — scanning resumes for keywords, formatting, and data points relevant to the job description.If your resume isn’t compatible with ATS software, it might get rejected before anyone ever reads it.

What Happens to a Non-ATS-Friendly Resume?

Let’s say Priya, a talented marketing professional, applied for 15 jobs using a beautifully designed, graphic-heavy resume in PDF. But she didn’t get a single interview. Why?

  • Had tables and graphics that confused the ATS.
  • Missed keywords related to the job description.
  • Used unreadable fonts and headers.

Once she got help from Shine Right Consultant, we redesigned her resume in an ATS-friendly format — and she started getting calls within a week.

Keep Your Resume Format Simple (No Need to Get Fancy)

Let’s be honest — when you’re creating a resume, it’s tempting to make it look “different” with cool fonts, boxes, or a colorful design. But if your goal is to get past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), the best approach is actually the simplest.

  • Stick with basic, easy-to-read fonts like Arial or Calibri.
  • Avoid using tables, graphics, icons, or multiple columns — they often confuse the software.
  • Keep everything in a single-column layout so the content flows smoothly from top to bottom.

Think of it this way: You’re not designing a brochure, you’re telling your career story — and both the software and the recruiter need to read it easily.

Use Keywords — But Make Them Part of Your Story

Every job post is basically a cheat sheet — it tells you exactly what the company is looking for. All you need to do is mirror that language in your resume.

Let’s say the job description talks about skills like “CRM tools,” “data analysis,” or “project coordination.”
Don’t just throw those words into a list — use them naturally when describing what you’ve actually done.

Example:
Instead of just saying:
Skills: CRM, Data Entry, Communication
Say something like:
“Managed over 1,200 customer records each month using Zoho CRM, improving response time by 25%.”

This shows the ATS that you match the job requirements, and it tells the recruiter what you’re capable of in the real world.

Step-by-Step: How to Create an ATS-Friendly Resume

  1.  Choose the Right File Format
    Use .docx or PDF (without graphics or tables).
  2. Avoid .jpg or online resume builders that use image-heavy templates.
  3. Scan the Job Description
    Highlight action words, skills, tools, and certifications.
  4. Mirror this language in your resume where applicable.
  5.  Focus on Readability
    Use bullet points:
    ➤ Led a team of 5 developers to deliver XYZ project
    ➤ Increased client retention by 30% in 6 months
  6. ✅ Step 4: Tailor for Each Job
    Customize the summary and core skills for each role.
  7. Test it Before Sending
    Upload your resume to free ATS checkers like Jobscan or Resume Worded.

Or better — consult our team at Shine Right Consultant for a professional review.

  1. 📩 Email us at:    shineright.hr@gmail.com

    Visit Website :   https://shinerightconsultants.com/

    📞 Or reach out to know how we can personalize your CV for your dream job.

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