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How to write an ATS resume means building a resume that an Applicant Tracking System can parse correctly, classify into the right fields, and rank as relevant for a specific job. An ATS resume is not just “simple formatting.” It is a document written and structured to survive automation, show up in recruiter searches, and avoid silent rejection caused by parsing errors.
This page is only about how to write an ATS resume.
When you upload a resume, the ATS converts it into structured fields like:
If your writing doesn’t map cleanly to those fields, the ATS may:
ATS resumes perform best when written for one job family at a time.
An ATS resume fails when it tries to “fit everything,” because keyword signals become diluted and the ATS cannot confidently match you to a specific role.
Write an ATS resume by locking in:
Example:
This step determines which keywords you’ll include and which you’ll intentionally exclude.
Writing an ATS resume begins with writing for extraction, not aesthetics.
ATS systems reliably recognize standard sections. Your job is to use predictable headers and keep the structure linear.
Use these headers:
Avoid creative headers that ATS misclassifies, such as:
The safest ATS resume is boring by design.
An ATS summary is not a biography. It is a match statement.
A strong ATS summary includes:
Example structure:
This helps the ATS and recruiter immediately classify you.
Your Skills section is one of the highest-weight keyword zones in an ATS resume.
Rules for writing it:
Avoid skills that you cannot support in experience. Unsupported skills create mismatch and reduce trust.
ATS ranking improves when keywords appear inside experience bullets, not just in a Skills list.
A strong ATS bullet includes:
ATS systems don’t “believe” claims. They index evidence patterns.
Weak bullet (low ATS signal):
Strong bullet (high ATS signal):
ATS systems frequently misparse dates when they are:
Use one consistent date format:
Upload CV
Import from Linkedin
Month YYYY – Month YYYY or YYYY – YYYYAnd keep the job layout consistent:
Consistency reduces ATS field errors.
ATS resumes do not need keyword repetition everywhere. They need coverage in the right places:
Keyword stuffing creates noise and can reduce relevance scoring if terms appear without context.
Below is a full ATS resume example written to demonstrate correct structure, keyword placement, and parsable formatting.
Customer Success Specialist
(000) 000-0000 | hello@newcv.io | linkedin.com/in/jordanhayes
Customer Success Specialist with 6+ years of experience supporting B2B customers through onboarding, issue resolution, and retention workflows. Skilled in account management, customer communication, CRM documentation, and cross-functional coordination to improve customer outcomes.
•Customer onboarding
• Account management
• Customer retention
• CRM documentation
• Escalation management
• Stakeholder communication
• Salesforce
• Zendesk
Customer Success Specialist
Northbridge Software Services
March 2021 – Present
•Managed onboarding workflows for new accounts and documented implementation steps in Salesforce
• Resolved customer issues through Zendesk ticket handling and coordinated escalations to technical teams
• Improved customer follow-up consistency by standardizing outreach sequences and tracking activity in CRM
• Supported retention efforts by monitoring account health signals and communicating risks to leadership
Customer Support Associate
Brightline Business Solutions
July 2018 – February 2021
•Handled customer inquiries across email and phone support and documented outcomes for reporting
• Assisted with onboarding tasks, training materials, and customer workflow guidance
• Maintained accurate customer records and supported escalation routing when required
Bachelor of Arts in Communications
University of Minnesota
This example demonstrates how to write an ATS resume correctly because it:
•Uses standard section headers that ATS systems recognize
• Places keywords in high-authority locations (job title, skills, recent experience)
• Connects tools (Salesforce, Zendesk) to real tasks in experience bullets
• Uses consistent job formatting so titles, companies, and dates parse correctly
• Avoids design elements that cause ATS extraction errors
The resume is written as a structured data source, not a designed document.
Most ATS failures come from writing choices that disrupt parsing or scoring.
High-impact mistakes include:
•Writing responsibilities without keywords used in the job description
• Listing tools in Skills but never mentioning them in Experience
• Using “creative” job titles that don’t match the market (e.g., “Customer Hero”)
• Writing long paragraphs instead of scannable bullets
• Mixing multiple role targets in one resume, causing keyword conflict
An ATS resume must communicate a single, clear job match.
A quick way to test whether you wrote a real ATS resume:
•Can your resume be understood if pasted into a plain text editor?
• Are job titles, companies, and dates still clear in plain text?
• Does your Skills list match the job description’s required skills?
• Do your first bullets in the most recent role include the role’s core keywords?
If the answer is “no,” the ATS is likely missing your signals.