🤖
How to Write an ATS-Friendly Resume (Templates, Keywords, Examples)
Most employers run every CV through an Applicant Tracking System before a human ever sees it. Here's how to write a resume that clears the bot and wins the interview.
Ge
GetToWork Team
·
Apr 17, 2026
What is an ATS?
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software tools recruiters use to filter, sort, and rank CVs based on keywords and structure. If your resume isn't ATS-friendly, it may never reach a human.
Structure that wins
- Use a clean single-column layout — no tables, text boxes, or graphics.
- Standard section headers: Summary, Experience, Skills, Education.
- Save as
.docxor.pdf(selectable text — never images). - Use Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica at 10–12pt.
Keyword strategy
- Paste the job description into a word-frequency tool.
- Naturally weave the top 10–15 keywords into your Experience and Skills sections.
- Match the exact phrasing of the employer ('customer success' vs. 'customer support').
Common mistakes
- Fancy icons and dividers that the parser can't read.
- Stuffing the Skills section with 60+ keywords (flagged as spam).
- Using 'References: available upon request' — waste of space.
Template
`
[Full name]
[City · phone · email · LinkedIn]
SUMMARY [Two-sentence pitch tailored to the role]
EXPERIENCE [Company, Role, Dates] • Bullet starting with a verb + result
SKILLS [Hard skill, Hard skill, Soft skill]
EDUCATION
[Degree, Institution, Year]
`