How to write an ATS-friendly resume that people can read too

An ATS-friendly resume should help an employer find and understand your relevant experience. You do not need hidden keywords or a promise that one template will pass every system.

Follow the application's instructions first. Employers use different software and review processes, so a universal "ATS score" cannot tell you exactly how a particular employer will assess you.

Give the document an obvious structure

Use recognizable headings such as Experience, Education, Skills, and Projects where appropriate. Keep dates connected to the role or course they describe. A straightforward single-column layout is a sensible starting point when you do not know the receiving system.

Put contact information in the main document text and check that it survives export. Avoid making a graphic, rating bar, or icon the only place an important skill appears.

Order the sections around the evidence most relevant to the vacancy. A recent graduate may lead with education and projects; an experienced applicant may lead with work history.

Show what you did

Replace a list of responsibilities with examples of work you actually completed. Explain your action, the context, and the result where you can support it.

For example, "Responsible for customer reports" could become "Prepared weekly support reports and explained recurring issues to the account team." Add figures only when they are accurate and you can explain their basis.

Keep the distinction between your contribution and a team's wider result. Clear evidence is more useful than an inflated title or an unverified achievement.

Match relevant language honestly

Read the job description and identify the requirements you can demonstrate. Use the employer's terminology where it accurately describes your experience, including a familiar expansion of an acronym when helpful.

Do not copy the whole vacancy into your resume or list skills you do not have. If you have related experience under a different title, explain the actual work rather than changing your employment history.

Check the file you will submit

Open the exported document, select its text, and paste it into a plain text editor as a rough readability check. This does not reproduce every ATS, but it can reveal missing text or an obviously scrambled order.

Follow the requested file type and size. After upload, review any fields the application fills automatically and correct them where possible.

Save the version you used with the vacancy reference. If you reach an interview, you will be able to discuss the same examples the employer saw. You can then browse current opportunities and apply where your evidence fits the role.

Further reading

• Make your resume* ATS-friendly – Career Advising & Professional Development | MIT
• Harvard College Guide to Creating a Strong Resume – Harvard FAS | Mignone Center for Career Success

Related guides

• Choose a resume file format
• Tailor a resume to a real job
• How to write resume achievement bullets when you do not have impressive numbers
• How to write a resume when you have little or no paid experience
• How to write a career-change resume with transferable evidence
• What to put in a resume skills section
• Resume formatting mistakes worth checking before you apply
• How to handle an employment gap on your resume
• A final resume and application checklist before you press submit