How to Create an ATS Scannable Resume | Allsorter

Sadiah Haque

How to Create an ATS Scannable Resume for Busy Recruiters

Applying for a job today means writing your resume for two audiences: the hiring manager and the software gatekeeper standing in your way—the Applicant Tracking System. If your resume isn’t structured in a way this software can read, it might never make it into a recruiter’s hands. That’s why learning how to create an ATS scannable resume is crucial.

It isn’t just about good writing—it’s about formatting, keywords, and making sure your experience is visible to both software and people. In this guide, we’ll walk through exactly how to make your resume ATS-friendly, without sacrificing clarity or your personal style.

What Is an ATS and How Does It Work?

An Applicant Tracking System is a type of software used by companies to streamline the hiring process. It collects resumes, scans them for relevant content, and ranks or filters them based on how well they match the job description.

That means your resume needs to be machine-readable, contain keywords that align with the role, and be formatted in a way the system can interpret.

If your resume has too many graphics, is missing key sections, or uses an unusual format, the ATS might struggle to read it—or ignore it entirely.

What Makes a Resume ATS Scannable?

To make your resume stand a chance of reaching a real recruiter, you need to tick a few boxes. Here's what makes a resume ATS scannable:

  • Standard formatting and clean layout
  • Proper section headings like “Experience” and “Education”
  • Strategic use of keywords pulled from the job description
  • No images, tables, or text boxesFile saved as .docx or PDF (when ATS-compatible)

Let’s break each one down with practical tips. And if you’d prefer a done-for-you option, Allsorter applies all of these best practices instantly.

1. Stick to a Simple Format

This isn’t the time for creativity. ATS software reads left to right, top to bottom, and it doesn’t handle visual flair well. If your resume is built with fancy columns, logos, icons, or graphics, the system might get confused.

Best practices:

  • Use a single-column layout
  • Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
  • Use bold and italics sparingly for emphasis—not styling
  • Keep your layout clean, with plenty of white space

Think of your resume like a newspaper article: clear headings, clean lines, and easy to skim.

2. Use Standard Headings

The ATS is looking for specific resume sections. If you label your work experience as “Career Milestones” or your skills as “My Toolbox,” it might not recognize what it’s reading.

Stick to classic headings like:

  • Professional Summary
  • Work Experience
  • Education
  • Skills
  • Certifications
  • Projects (if relevant)

It might feel generic, but this is what the software is trained to recognize.

3. Tailor Your Resume With Keywords From the Job Description

This is where many job seekers fall short. If the job posting asks for someone with “project management,” “data analysis,” and “cross-functional collaboration,” and your resume doesn’t use those words—even if you have those skills—you could get filtered out.

How to do it:

  • Print out or highlight the job description
  • Look for repeated phrases or technical skills
  • Include those exact terms naturally in your bullet points and summary

Avoid keyword stuffing, but do aim to mirror the language used in the listing. This tells the ATS you’re a match.

4. Ditch Tables, Text Boxes & Graphics

Even though they might look great to the human eye, most ATS platforms can’t read content placed inside tables, text boxes, or graphics. This includes resume templates with timelines, icons, charts, or sidebars.

If important information—like your skills or contact info—is inside a table, the system might skip over it.

Instead, stick to:

  • Plain text
  • Bullet points
  • Clear line breaks

Keep it simple so nothing gets lost in translation. Many professionally designed templates on the internet actually fail ATS scans. However, Allsorter avoids those formatting traps and ensures your resume is both clean and compliant.

5. Save Your File the Right Way

Believe it or not, your file type matters. Most ATS platforms are compatible with .docx files, and many now support PDFs, but some older systems still struggle with PDF formatting.

If the job posting doesn’t specify, your safest bet is to submit it as a .docx file. This ensures maximum compatibility.

6. Use a Keyword-Rich Summary at the Top

The top third of your resume is prime real estate. Use this section to clearly introduce your experience, your strengths, and your goals—with keywords in mind.

Example:

Project Manager with 7+ years of experience leading cross-functional teams in the software and fintech industries. Skilled in Agile methodologies, stakeholder communication, and deadline-driven delivery. Seeking to bring strong leadership and analytical skills to a growth-focused product team.

This summary is short, focused, and packed with relevant terms the ATS will likely scan for.

7. Focus on Results in Your Work Experience

The ATS is looking for more than job titles—it wants to see accomplishments. Use bullet points that start with strong action verbs and highlight measurable results.

Instead of:

Responsible for managing client accounts

Try:

Managed 20+ client accounts with 95% retention rate over 12 months

Instead of:

In charge of social media strategy

Try:

Increased Instagram engagement by 40% through targeted content and analytics tools

These types of bullet points help your resume stand out once it gets past the ATS—and they also make a better impression on the recruiter.

Bonus Tip: Test Your Resume Before You Send It

Want to know if your resume is really ATS-friendly? Try this quick test:

  1. Copy all the text from your resume
  2. Paste it into a plain text editor (like Notepad or TextEdit)
  3. If the layout looks messy or critical info disappears, the ATS might struggle to read it too

This simple test shows you whether your formatting is truly readable by machines. If it passes here, you’re in good shape.

Recruiters Are Busy (and So Are Their Tools)

The average corporate job posting receives hundreds of applications. Recruiters rely on ATS platforms to sort through that volume quickly, which means your resume may never be seen unless it’s structured correctly.

A beautifully designed resume that isn’t ATS scannable could actually hurt your chances. On the other hand, a clean, keyword-aligned resume gets through the filter—and closer to an interview.

Final Thoughts

Creating an ATS scannable resume doesn’t mean sacrificing personality or storytelling. It means making smart formatting choices that allow your skills and experience to shine through.

Focus on clarity, match your content to the job, and structure your resume in a way that works with the systems recruiters rely on. Once you get through the software layer, you’ll have the chance to impress the real person on the other side.

Need help making sure your resume is ATS-friendly? Try Allsorter! No guessing, no formatting stress, just a clean, scannable document recruiters can actually read.