Many job seekers spend hours perfecting their resumes, adding sleek graphics, stylish fonts, and a carefully curated layout that looks like it belongs in an art gallery.
But despite their best efforts, they’re not getting any interview callbacks.
The culprit? Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)—a digital gatekeeper that may be completely ignoring their application.
The ATS Problem: When Robots Decide Who Gets Hired
An estimated 75% of companies use ATS software to scan and filter resumes before a human recruiter even lays eyes on them. Think of it like a super-picky bouncer at an exclusive club—except instead of checking IDs, it’s scanning for specific keywords and formatting.
And if it can’t read a resume properly? Denied at the door.
This is bad news for those who rely on tables, graphics, or text boxes to make their resumes stand out. While these elements might look great to the human eye, ATS software often misreads, ignores, or jumbles them—causing crucial information to be lost in translation.
How to Outsmart the Bots (and Actually Get Seen)
The good news? ATS isn’t trying to be difficult—it just has a thing for simplicity. Here’s how to make a resume that both AI and human recruiters can appreciate:
Use Word or Google Docs—not Canva, InDesign, or any design-heavy software.
Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times (fancy scripts need not apply).
Avoid tables, columns, and text boxes—ATS struggles to read them.
Make sure all text is actual text (not embedded in an image).
Save it as a .docx file unless the job posting specifically asks for a PDF.
Get a second set of (human) eyes to curate your resume with these rules in mind.
Think of it this way: your resume doesn’t need to be a work of art—it needs to be readable.
Clean, simple formatting gets past the ATS, lands in front of a real person, and that’s when your skills and experience can truly shine.
The Bottom Line
If a resume isn’t ATS-friendly, it may never reach the right hands—no matter how impressive the qualifications. By making a few formatting tweaks, job seekers can significantly improve their chances of getting noticed and landing interviews.
Ali Goodin Certified Career Coach in Central FL
I'm a former Disney employee, graphic designer turned career coach, and job transition expert. I created Ful Life Coaching to give professionals of all ages & stages a safe space to navigate career transition. My passion is equipping professionals with the tools and confidence they need to transition in their careers – from launch to retirement – so they can live happier, healthier lives.