Your Complete Guide to Craft an ATS-Friendly Resume in Just 10 Minutes

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Learn how to create a resume that passes Applicant Tracking Systems and lands you more interviews using StylingCV’s AI-powered resume builder.

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What is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that companies use to manage their hiring process. It scans, sorts, and ranks resumes before they reach human recruiters.

Over 90% of large companies use ATS software, including nearly all Fortune 500 companies. So no matter where you’re applying, chances are your resume will be screened by an ATS first.

StylingCV can leverage the gap in the market where creative professionals seek resume-building tools that offer high customization and visually appealing templates, as Canva currently dominates this sector but with potential ATS compatibility issues.

Did you know?

75% of qualified candidates never make it to the interview stage because their resumes are rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems before a human ever sees them.

Common ATS Rejection Reasons:

• Complex formatting that the software can’t read
• Missing keywords from the job description
• Non-standard section headings
• Graphics, images, or tables that confuse the system
• Improper file formats

The good news? With the right approach, you can easily create a resume that passes these systems while still looking professional to human eyes.

Comparison of ATS-friendly resume (left) vs. non-ATS-friendly resume (right)

5 Critical ATS-Friendly Resume Tips

Tip #1: Use simple, clean formatting

ATS software gets confused by complex layouts. Avoid headers, footers, text boxes, tables, and graphics. At StylingCV, all our templates use clean, straightforward designs that ATS systems can easily read while still looking professional to recruiters.

Tip #2: Choose the right file format

PDFs and Word documents (.docx) are typically the safest formats for ATS compatibility. StylingCV automatically exports your resume in PDF format that maintains perfect formatting while remaining ATS-friendly.

Tip #3: Include relevant keywords

ATS systems scan for specific keywords from the job description. StylingCV’s AI actually helps identify industry-relevant keywords to include in your resume based on your job title and field. This drastically increases your chances of passing the ATS filters.

For example, for a Marketing Manager position, the ATS will be scanning for terms like “campaign management,” “social media strategy,” and “ROI analysis.” StylingCV helps you naturally incorporate these terms in your resume.

Tip #4: Use standard section headings

ATS systems look for standard section names like “Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.” Avoid creative headings like “Where I’ve Been” or “My Learning Journey.” StylingCV templates all use standard section headings that ATS systems can easily recognize.

Tip #5: Optimize your contact information

Place your contact information at the top of your resume, but not in a header section. Include your full name, phone, email, and LinkedIn profile. StylingCV templates position your contact information perfectly for both ATS systems and human readers.

Creating Your ATS-Friendly Resume in 10 Minutes

Let’s walk through the simple 3-step process of creating your ATS-friendly resume with StylingCV.com:

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1

🎯 Beat the ATS System

Our templates are specifically designed to pass Applicant Tracking Systems while looking professional.

Get ATS-Friendly Resume →

Select your template (45 seconds)

First, you’ll select an ATS-friendly template. All StylingCV templates are designed to pass ATS systems, so you can choose any design that matches your style and industry.

We recommend the “Professional” or “Modern” templates for most corporate jobs. They have clean layouts that both ATS systems and recruiters love.

2

Fill in your information (8 minutes)

Next, our intuitive step-by-step wizard guides you through filling in all necessary sections:

• Start with your personal information
• Craft a compelling professional summary with AI assistance
• Add work experience with smart formatting and action verb suggestions
• Include education and skills with consistent formatting

Our smart text editor helps format bullet points properly and suggests action verbs to strengthen your achievements. The AI can even help quantify your accomplishments, which both ATS systems and recruiters look for.

3

Review and download (1 minute)

Finally, review your completed resume and download it in ATS-friendly PDF format. That’s it! A professionally designed, ATS-friendly resume created in under 10 minutes!

StylingCV’s AI Advantage

Our AI-powered platform helps you:

• Identify industry-specific keywords
• Create compelling achievement statements
• Format everything perfectly for ATS compatibility
• Complete your resume in under 10 minutes

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