If your resume isn't passing the initial ATS scan, it's often not because you're unqualified it might just be formatted or written the wrong way. In this guide, I'll show exactly how to boost your ATS score in five practical steps. I've tested these tactics, and they work.

You'll learn:

1. What ATS systems look for
2. How to parse job descriptions for keywords
3. How to format your resume for ATS reading
4. Tools that help optimize your resume
5. How to test, tweak, and monitor your score

Let's dive in.

What is ATS and Why It Matters

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It's software used by companies to scan and filter resumes.

• It parses your resume to pick up names, emails, job titles, skills
• Matches keywords from the job description
• Scores your resume to rank candidates
• Filters applications before a human ever sees them

By 2025, most large employers are using ATS or similar AI-powered tools for initial resume reviews.

Even if a human eventually reads it, a low ATS score might prevent your resume from ever reaching them.

So making your resume ATS-friendly means ensuring it gets seen, not ranked out.

Step 1: Choose the Right Format

Formatting matters. Use a layout that ATS can easily parse.

Do's:

• Use standard headings: "Work Experience," "Education," "Skills"
• Pick a chronological or hybrid format. ATS struggle with functional layouts
• Use common fonts (Arial, Calibri, Cambria)
• Stick to bullet points, not dense paragraphs
• Keep it to 1–2 pages max

Don'ts:

• Avoid images, logos, graphics, charts. ATS may ignore or misinterpret them
• No columns or tables, as many ATS skip those areas
• Don't put contact info in headers/footers; ATS often miss them

Example layout:

John Doe | +91‑98xxxxxxx | john.doe@gmail.com
LinkedIn | GitHub

Professional Summary
Key Skills
Work Experience
Education
Certifications

This structure gives ATS a clear path to read your details, with no guessing.

Step 2: Extract and Use the Right Keywords

ATS systems look for specific keywords that match the job posting.

Find them by:

1. Reading the job ad carefully and highlight repeated terms
2. Checking company websites and current employee LinkedIn profiles

Keyword types to include:

• Job title (exact match with posting)
• Hard skills (e.g., "React", "Python", "financial modeling")
• Certifications (e.g., "PMP", "AWS Certified")
• Tools and platforms (e.g., "Tableau", "Docker")

Where to place them:

• Headline or summary: Put the job title and platform names
• Skills section: Mirror the exact wording and order
• Experience bullets: Mix action verbs and keywords

Avoid keyword stuffing:

• Don't insert them unnaturally. ATS can detect that
• Keep resume readable by humans too

Example:

From job: "Analyze data in Python, generate reports, collaborate with product team"

Resume bullet:

• Used Python (Pandas, NumPy) to analyze sales data and build dashboards, resulting in 30% faster monthly reports delivered to the product team.

See how "Python," "analyze," "product team" all match the JD naturally.

Step 3: Format for Clean Parsing

Even with keywords, poor formatting can break ATS parsing.

Best practices:

• Use a two-column layout only if it's linear, avoid complicated nesting
• Left-align all text; no centered columns
• Leave consistent spacing and bold headings
• No "creative" section titles. stick to "Work Experience," not "Professional Journey"
• Spell out acronyms AND abbreviations on first mention e.g., "Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)"

Example clean formatting:

SKILLS
• Python, Pandas, SQL, Tableau

WORK EXPERIENCE
ABC Corp, Data Analyst | Jan 2023 – Mar 2025
• Used SQL to query company database [...].

Avoid visuals or nesting that break ATS logic.

Step 4: Use Tools to Optimize Your Score

Several free or affordable tools help you test ATS compatibility:

1. SpeedUpHire

I built SpeedUpHire to solve this exact problem. It helps job seekers get more interviews by improving their resume for ATS systems.

Features:

Paste your resume + job description Instantly see your ATS score Get a list of missing keywords See which sections are hurting your score Fix layout issues (headings, contact info, etc.) Export the improved version in one click Best part? You can do all this for free.

Best for: Freshers, early professionals, and anyone tired of getting ghosted after applying.

2. Jobscan

• Paste JD + resume
• Get a "match rate," missing keywords, formatting feedback
• Re-run as you tweak

3. Kickresume

• ATS-aware templates
• AI bullet suggestions
• Built-in ATS scanner

4. Resume.io, Zety, Canva ATS templates

• Clean layouts with ATS safety in mind

5. Huntr, Topresume, myjobb.ai

• Help pick ATS-compliant formats, guide keyword use

How to use them:

1. Upload resume + JD to tool
2. Review missing keywords and formatting errors
3. Add keywords naturally in summary, skills, bullets
4. Fix flagged formatting issues
5. Repeat until score is ~90%+

Step 5: Test and Iterate

Improving your ATS score is ongoing. Track results and optimize continually.

Actions to take:

• After each application, note if you got a call or rejection
• If no call, review job description again and adjust
• Re-run scans with new JD
• Aiming for 90%+ ATS match scores gives you best visibility

Remember what really matters: A real recruiter will review your resume next. They ignore resumes that look robotic. So focus on real achievements and clarity.

Common Mistakes That Hurt ATS Scores

1. Over-formatting – Tables, images, odd fonts
2. Keyword stuffing – ATS can penalize that
3. Missing job title – Include it prominently
4. Wrong file type – Use Word if unsure
5. Unclear section names – Use standard headings
6. Footer contact info – ATS may ignore it

Real Case: Jaylyn's Resume Story

A recruiter named Jaylyn got dozens of interviews even though her resume had poor ATS optimization, only 16% score because she focused on showing clear job results instead of matching every keyword.

Key learning:

• ATS matters but humans want real impact. Use tools, but don't obsess over scoring.

Bonus Tips for 2025

• Include both full terms and acronyms - ("Search Engine Optimization (SEO)")
• Prepare a plain text version - for organization portals
• Mirror JD tone - formal vs informal language
• Update LinkedIn keywords - to match your ATS resume
• Consider blind resumes - for bias-free hiring scenarios

Final Checklist

Task
Clean ATS-friendly format
Name job title & company in headline
Insert keywords in summary, skills, bullets
Keep layout simple; avoid visuals
Use .docx or PDF as required
Use Jobscan or similar tools
Aim for ≥90% match
Test with different JDs
Maintain clarity and human-readability

Conclusion

Improving your ATS score is not about tricking a bot. it's about making it easy for a bot and a recruiter to recognize your value.

In just five steps — formatting, keyword mapping, formatting cleanup, tool-based tweaking, and iterative testing you can move from invisible to interview-ready in 2025.

Focus equally on real achievements and smart optimization. Let the tools do the heavy lifting, and let your results tell your story.