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Home › ATS Resume Tips
The mistakes that get resumes rejected by ATS software before a recruiter reads them, and how to fix each one.
Check my ATS score now →An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software companies use to filter, rank and manage resumes before a recruiter looks at them. Mid-size and large companies in India commonly use one, and so do the MNCs hiring here.
When you apply on Naukri, LinkedIn, or a company careers page, your resume is first parsed by ATS software. If it doesn't match enough of what the employer screens for, it can be filtered out or ranked too low for a recruiter to ever see your name. Each employer sets its own threshold, and most never publish it.
💡 A score of 85+ (Excellent) on ATSPass means your resume closely matches what ATS software screens for. Below 50 (Weak) means there are serious problems to fix first.
ATS systems match your resume against the JD by looking for exact keyword matches. If the JD says "stakeholder management" and your resume says "managed stakeholders", some ATS systems won't count it. Use the JD's exact phrases, and put them in sentences where they're true for you.
Two-column templates are popular in India, and they cause a lot of ATS problems. Parsers read left to right, top to bottom, so a second column can get merged into your experience or skipped altogether. Use a single column.
⚠️ Most Canva resume templates use multiple columns, and Canva exports can save text as images that an ATS can't read. Don't use Canva for a resume you'll submit online.
ATS software looks for specific section names. Use exactly these headings: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications, Projects. Avoid creative headings like "My Journey", "Professional Arsenal", or "Technical Proficiency".
Put a clear Skills section right after your summary so it's easy to find. List tools, technologies and competencies as separate keywords. Skip the visual skill bars.
Many ATS parsers ignore document headers and footers. If your phone number, email, or LinkedIn URL is in a Word document header, the ATS may never read it. Put all contact details in the main body of the document.
Tables, text boxes, skill bars, profile photos, and decorative icons all confuse ATS parsers. The text inside a table cell is often read incorrectly or skipped entirely. Replace any visual elements with plain text.
Many ATS tools rank on the content of your bullets as well as keywords, and numbers make that content stronger. Replace "Responsible for sales growth" with "Increased regional sales by 34% in Q3 FY2024 by expanding channel partnerships."
Always submit your resume as a text-based PDF or a DOCX file. To check, try selecting text in your PDF. If you can't select it, the PDF is image-based and an ATS can't read it.
Write "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)" instead of just "SEO". That way your resume matches both the short and full versions of a keyword a recruiter might search for.
Sending one generic resume everywhere is one of the most common ATS mistakes. Every JD asks for different keywords and skills.
✅ Tailor your resume to each JD and check your ATS score before every application. The missing keywords change from one job to the next, so one generic resume can't cover them all.
| ATS Score | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 85–100 | Excellent, ready to apply | Submit confidently. Minor polish only. |
| 70–84 | Good, needs small fixes | Add 2–3 missing keywords from JD. |
| 55–69 | Average, keyword gaps | Rewrite weak bullets, add Skills section. |
| Below 55 | High rejection risk | Fix formatting first, then keywords. |
Upload your resume and paste the JD. You'll get your score, keyword gaps, rewrites and a cover letter in minutes. Free trial available · Basic ₹99 · Plus ₹299 (5 scans).
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