01
Use clear section headings
Use familiar headings such as Professional Summary, Work Experience, Education, and Skills. Clear labels help readers and parsing software identify the information in your resume.
Applicant Tracking System Guide
Make your resume easier to read and understand.
Learn how applicant tracking systems process resume information and how to prepare a clear, well-structured resume for your job applications.
✓ Clear structure✓ Relevant content✓ Readable formatting
How resume information may be processed
A simplified illustration
📄
Resume document
EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
SKILLS
↓
Information processing
Software may identify and organize resume details.
Example extracted fields
Name
Alex Morgan
Experience
Marketing Associate
Education
Bachelor’s Degree
Skills
Research, Communication
ATS products differ. This illustration shows a simplified concept, not the exact behavior of every system.
The basics
What is an Applicant Tracking System?
An Applicant Tracking System, commonly called an ATS, is software that employers use to manage job applications and recruitment information.
Depending on the system and the employer’s process, it may help collect applications, organize candidate details, support searches, and assist recruiters in managing hiring workflows.
A clear resume structure can make your information easier to locate and interpret. However, no particular template or formatting choice guarantees that a resume will pass an ATS, receive a particular score, or lead to an interview.
Practical resume tips
Five ways to improve resume readability
These practices help keep your resume organized and make it easier for people—and software where applicable—to find important details.
02
Keep the layout readable
Use a clean structure, consistent spacing, and readable font sizes. Avoid placing important information inside complex graphics or decorative elements.
03
Include relevant keywords naturally
Review the job description for skills, qualifications, and tools that genuinely match your experience. Include those terms naturally where they accurately describe your background.
04
Describe your experience clearly
Use concise bullet points to explain your responsibilities, contributions, and achievements. Be specific and truthful about your experience.
05
Check your details before applying
Review your contact information, dates, spelling, and document formatting. Make sure the resume is relevant to the position you are applying for.
Relevant keywords
Match your resume to the role—truthfully.
Job descriptions often identify the skills, qualifications, and tools an employer is seeking. Review those requirements and include relevant terms when they accurately describe your background.
Do not add skills you do not have or repeat keywords unnaturally. Your resume should represent your real experience clearly.
Example job description
Marketing Coordinator
The role requests experience with campaign coordination, communication, content planning, and reporting.
Relevant terms to review
Campaign coordinationCommunicationContent planningReporting
Example resume bullet
Coordinated digital marketing campaigns, prepared performance reports, and supported content planning across project teams.
Before you submit
Common resume mistakes to check
- !Using unclear or unusual section headings.
- !Leaving out essential contact information.
- !Using complicated layouts that make important details difficult to locate.
- !Adding keywords that do not accurately reflect your experience.
- !Submitting a resume with inconsistent dates, spelling errors, or unfinished sections.
Using ShrewdResume
Put these tips into practice
ShrewdResume guides you through entering your information, selecting a layout, reviewing your resume, and downloading your document.
1
Choose a template
Start with a structured resume layout.
2
Enter your details
Add your experience, education, and skills.
3
Review your resume
Check your content and formatting.
4
Download PDF
Save your completed resume for applications.
Start building
Ready to create your resume?
Apply what you’ve learned and create a clear, professional resume with ShrewdResume.
Create My ATS-Friendly Resume →A clear resume can support your application, but hiring decisions depend on many factors.