What Is ATS Score & How to Improve It (Free Guide)
Your complete free guide to understanding ATS scores, how applicant tracking systems work, and proven strategies to beat ATS screening
What is ATS (Applicant Tracking System)?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by employers to collect, scan, sort, and rank job applications. Think of it as a digital gatekeeper that filters through hundreds or thousands of resumes before they ever reach a human recruiter.
99%
Fortune 500 companies use ATS
75%
Resumes rejected by ATS
6 sec
Average ATS scan time
Popular ATS platforms include Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse, Lever, and iCIMS. Each has slightly different parsing algorithms, but they all look for the same fundamental elements in your resume.
Understanding ATS Scores
Your ATS score is a percentage that represents how well your resume matches a specific job description and how easily an ATS can read and parse your information.
90-100%
Excellent: Highly likely to pass ATS screening. Strong keyword match and perfect formatting.
60-89%
Good: Decent chance of passing. Needs keyword optimization and minor formatting fixes.
Below 60%
Poor: Likely to be rejected. Major optimization needed for keywords and structure.
How ATS Scores Your Resume
ATS systems use sophisticated algorithms to evaluate resumes across multiple criteria:
Keyword Matching (40%)
Scans for job-specific keywords, skills, and industry terms from the job description
Resume Formatting (25%)
Evaluates readability, structure, and parsing compatibility
Experience Match (20%)
Compares years of experience, job titles, and career progression
Education & Certifications (10%)
Checks for required degrees, certifications, and qualifications
File Type & Quality (5%)
Assesses document format (PDF vs DOCX) and text extraction quality
ATS vs Human Recruiters: What's the Difference?
ATS Systems Look For:
- Exact keyword matches
- Standard formatting
- Chronological work history
- Clear section headers
- Parseable text (no images)
- Quantifiable metrics
Human Recruiters Look For:
- Storytelling and context
- Visual appeal and design
- Career trajectory and growth
- Cultural fit indicators
- Soft skills and personality
- Unique achievements
Pro Tip: The best resumes pass both ATS systems AND impress human recruiters. This means balancing keyword optimization with compelling storytelling and clean design.
Common ATS Mistakes to Avoid
These resume mistakes can tank your ATS score and get your application automatically rejected:
Using complex formatting (tables, text boxes, columns)
Why it fails: ATS can't parse these correctly, resulting in scrambled or missing information
✓ Fix: Use simple, single-column format with clear section headers
Including graphics, logos, or images
Why it fails: ATS reads only text; images are completely ignored
✓ Fix: Remove all graphics and replace with text descriptions
Using non-standard section headings
Why it fails: ATS looks for specific headers like 'Work Experience' or 'Education'
✓ Fix: Stick to standard headers: Experience, Education, Skills, etc.
Submitting as scanned PDF or image file
Why it fails: ATS cannot extract text from scanned documents
✓ Fix: Always use text-based PDFs or DOCX format
Missing relevant keywords from job description
Why it fails: ATS matches your resume against job requirements via keywords
✓ Fix: Mirror language from the job posting naturally in your resume
Using headers and footers for contact info
Why it fails: Many ATS systems ignore header/footer content
✓ Fix: Place contact information in the main body at the top
How to Increase Your ATS Score
Follow these proven strategies to boost your ATS score and land more interviews
1. Use ATS-Friendly Templates
Choose simple, single-column layouts with standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
2. Mirror Job Description Keywords
Include exact phrases and terms from the job posting naturally throughout your resume
3. Optimize Section Headers
Use standard headers: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications
4. Include Skills Section
List both hard and soft skills relevant to the position with exact keyword matches
5. Use Standard File Formats
Submit as .docx or text-based PDF (never scanned PDFs or images)
6. Test Your Resume
Use our free ATS checker to identify issues before applying
Ready to Optimize Your Resume?
Use our free ATS checker to see exactly how recruiters' systems score your resume
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good ATS score?
A good ATS score is typically 80% or higher. Scores above 90% indicate excellent ATS compatibility. Scores below 60% suggest significant optimization is needed.
How do I improve my ATS score?
Improve your ATS score by using standard resume formatting, including relevant keywords from the job description, avoiding complex graphics or tables, and using a clean, ATS-friendly resume template.
Do all companies use ATS?
Yes, over 99% of Fortune 500 companies and 70% of all employers use some form of ATS to screen resumes. Even small companies increasingly adopt ATS systems.
Can ATS read PDF resumes?
Modern ATS systems can read simple PDF resumes, but text-based PDFs work best. Avoid scanned PDFs, PDFs with complex formatting, or image-based PDFs.