Common Resume Mistakes That ATS Will Reject

 

In today’s competitive job market, getting your resume noticed by hiring managers is more difficult than ever. One of the biggest obstacles job seekers face is ensuring that their resume passes through the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) — the software used by employers to screen resumes before they even make it to human eyes. While many candidates focus on designing visually appealing resumes, they often overlook the importance of creating an ATS-friendly document that can easily be parsed and understood by these automated systems.

In this blog, we’ll take a deep dive into the common resume mistakes that ATS will reject and provide actionable tips on how to avoid them. Whether you’re new to the job market or are a seasoned professional, optimizing your resume for ATS is crucial to ensuring that it gets noticed and lands you your next opportunity.

What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

An ATS is a type of software that employers use to collect, sort, and rank resumes based on keywords, qualifications, and other criteria. The system helps employers manage large volumes of applications and quickly identify candidates who meet the basic job requirements.

When you submit your resume, it’s often first processed by the ATS, which extracts data like your contact details, education, skills, and work history. However, if your resume isn’t ATS-friendly, the software may fail to read it properly, resulting in your resume being rejected even if you’re a perfect fit for the job.

Common Resume Mistakes That ATS Will Reject

1. Using Fancy Formatting or Graphics

One of the most common mistakes applicants make is using complex formatting, graphics, tables, and unusual fonts in their resumes. While these elements might look aesthetically appealing to a human reader, they can confuse ATS systems. Most ATS are unable to process images, text boxes, or other design elements like logos. Consequently, your resume may not be parsed correctly, and vital information may be overlooked.

What to Do:

• Stick to a simple layout with clear section headings (e.g., Contact Information, Work Experience, Education, Skills, etc.).
• Avoid using graphics, images, or tables that could cause the ATS to misinterpret your resume.
• Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, and keep font sizes consistent.

2. Using Uncommon Job Titles

Job titles are one of the key elements that ATS looks for when evaluating a resume. However, many candidates use unique or overly creative job titles, which may not align with common industry standards. For example, calling yourself a “Digital Guru” or “Marketing Rockstar” might seem fun, but it may not be easily recognized by the ATS as a relevant title for a marketing position.

What to Do:

• Use standard job titles that are widely recognized in your industry.
• If you held a unique or unconventional job title, you can include the standard version of the title in parentheses to help the ATS recognize it.
  • Example: “Content Strategist (Digital Content Manager)”

3. Keyword Stuffing

ATS works by scanning your resume for keywords that match the job description. However, some job seekers make the mistake of keyword stuffing — cramming as many relevant keywords as possible into their resumes, often without considering context or readability. This can negatively affect your chances, as the ATS may flag your resume as spammy, and human recruiters will likely notice that it doesn’t read naturally.

What to Do:

• Carefully analyze the job description to identify the most relevant keywords, including skills, qualifications, and industry-specific terms.
• Use those keywords naturally and contextually throughout your resume, especially in sections like Work Experience and Skills.
• Focus on quality over quantity when it comes to keywords.

4. Failing to Use Standard Section Headings

ATS systems rely on standard section headings to properly organize and parse your resume. For example, headings like "Work Experience," "Education," and "Skills" are easily understood by ATS. However, many job seekers create custom section titles, such as “Professional Journey” or “Career Highlights,” which may not be recognized by the ATS.

What to Do:

• Use standard section headings like “Work Experience,” “Skills,” “Education,” “Certifications,” and “Contact Information.”
• Avoid creative or unconventional headings that could confuse the ATS.

5. Submitting a Resume in the Wrong File Format

ATS software can only read certain file formats. The most common formats accepted by ATS are .docx (Microsoft Word) and .pdf, though not all systems can read PDFs accurately. Submitting your resume in a format like .jpg, .png, or .rtf can result in the ATS rejecting your application outright.

What to Do:

• Always submit your resume in .docx or .pdf format unless the job listing specifies otherwise.
• Double-check the job posting for any instructions regarding file formats.

6. Overloading with Acronyms and Abbreviations

While industry-specific acronyms and abbreviations might be familiar to you, ATS may not always recognize them. This can lead to your resume being misinterpreted, especially if the acronym isn’t listed in the job description or if there’s no full form provided.

What to Do:

• Spell out acronyms the first time you use them, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. For example, “Certified Public Accountant (CPA).”
• Use the full form of terms when possible, especially if they are commonly used in the industry.

7. Including Irrelevant Information

Including irrelevant or outdated information on your resume can hurt your chances with both ATS and human recruiters. For example, listing job experiences or skills that aren’t applicable to the position you’re applying for could clutter your resume and reduce its effectiveness.

What to Do:

• Tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for by emphasizing relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.
• Remove outdated or irrelevant information, such as jobs that are more than 10-15 years old (unless they’re highly relevant to the job).

8. Lack of Relevant Keywords in the Skills Section

Your skills section is one of the primary places an ATS looks for relevant keywords. If your resume lacks the proper skills or doesn't match the keywords in the job description, your chances of passing the ATS screening are significantly reduced.

What to Do:

• Include a Skills section that highlights both hard and soft skills relevant to the job.
• Use keywords directly from the job description, but only include those that are accurate to your experience.

9. Using Inconsistent or Complex Job Descriptions

Job descriptions with inconsistent tense, bullet points, or unclear phrasing can confuse an ATS. It’s also important to remember that an ATS is typically better at parsing structured content (e.g., job titles, company names, dates) than unstructured content.

What to Do:

• Use bullet points to list your responsibilities and achievements, as they are easier for ATS to parse than paragraphs.
• Maintain consistent formatting throughout your resume to ensure that the ATS can easily extract information.

10. Not Including Contact Information or Using the Wrong Contact Information

It may sound simple, but some applicants forget to include basic contact information, or they use unconventional formats that the ATS may not recognize. If your contact details aren’t clear or are missing altogether, your resume could be disqualified before a recruiter even sees it.

What to Do:

• Include your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable) at the top of your resume.
• Avoid using uncommon contact formats such as email addresses that may confuse the ATS.

How to Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly

Now that we’ve covered the most common mistakes job seekers make when submitting their resumes, let’s discuss some strategies for ensuring that your resume is ATS-friendly:

1. Use a Simple Layout and Design: Stick to a basic, clean design that focuses on content rather than aesthetics. Avoid using templates that rely heavily on images, graphics, or unusual fonts.

2. Incorporate Job Description Keywords: Ensure that your resume includes relevant keywords from the job description. Match your qualifications and skills with the language used in the listing.

3. Stick to Standard Headings: Use the common section headings mentioned earlier to help ATS correctly interpret your resume.

4. Keep it in the Right File Format: Use a .docx or .pdf format unless instructed otherwise. These are the most universally accepted by ATS software.

5. Test Your Resume: Before submitting your resume, consider using an online ATS resume checker to see how it performs. Tools like Jobscan can provide insights into how well your resume aligns with a specific job posting.

Conclusion

Submitting a resume that gets through an Applicant Tracking System is no longer optional — it’s a necessity. While your resume’s aesthetics and content matter, it’s equally important to ensure that it is formatted in a way that makes it ATS-friendly. By avoiding the common mistakes discussed above and following best practices, you can greatly increase your chances of getting your resume into the hands of a hiring manager.

Remember, an ATS is your first hurdle in the recruitment process. Make sure your resume is optimized so that you can clear that hurdle and move on to the next stage — an interview with a real person!