Loading…
Home › ATS Resume Tips
Fix the exact mistakes that get your resume rejected by ATS software — before a single human reads it.
Check my ATS score now →An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that companies use to automatically filter, rank, and manage resumes before any human recruiter sees them. Almost every mid-to-large company in India uses ATS — TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Swiggy, Zomato, Flipkart, PhonePe, and all MNCs operating in India.
When you apply on Naukri, LinkedIn, or a company careers page, your resume is first parsed by ATS software. If your score falls below a threshold — typically 60–80% — your resume is automatically filtered out before the recruiter ever sees your name.
💡 A score of 85+ (Excellent) on ATSPass means your resume closely matches what most ATS systems screen for. Below 50 (Weak) means significant issues need fixing.
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. Copy the exact phrases used in the JD and weave them naturally into your resume.
Two-column resume templates are popular in India but they are ATS killers. Parsers read left to right and top to bottom. A two-column layout causes your skills to get merged with your experience, or entire sections to be skipped. Use a clean, single-column format.
⚠️ Canva resume templates almost always use multi-column layouts. Canva often saves text as images that ATS cannot read at all. Avoid Canva for resumes you'll submit digitally.
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".
ATS systems scan for skills in the first third of your resume. Place a clear Skills section after your summary — listing tools, technologies, and competencies as individual keywords, not in a visual skill-bar format.
Many ATS parsers completely 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.
ATS systems rank resumes not just on keyword presence but on content strength. 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 DOCX file. Test by selecting and copying text from your PDF — if you can't select the text, it's image-based and ATS cannot read it.
Write "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)" instead of just "SEO". This ensures your resume matches both the abbreviated and full-form versions of keywords recruiters may search for.
A single generic resume submitted everywhere is the most common ATS mistake Indian job seekers make. Each JD uses different keywords, priorities, and skill requirements.
✅ Job seekers who tailor their resume to each JD and check their ATS score with ATSPass report 2–3x more recruiter callbacks within 2 weeks.
| 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 + paste the JD. Get your score, keyword gaps, rewrites, and cover letter in minutes. Free trial available · Basic ₹99 · Plus ₹299 (5 scans).
Check my ATS score →