RESUME TIPS

ATS-Friendly Resume: Complete Guide for Freshers

January 12, 2026 8 min read

Did you know that 75% of resumes are rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) before a human ever sees them? If you're applying to jobs online and not getting callbacks, your resume might be getting filtered out by bots. Let's fix that.

What is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System is software that companies use to manage job applications. It scans resumes for keywords, qualifications, and formatting to rank candidates. Popular ATS systems include Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse, and Lever.

⚠️ The Problem

ATS can't read fancy formatting, graphics, tables, or headers/footers. If your resume has these, it may appear blank or garbled to the system.

ATS-Friendly Resume Formatting Rules

1. Use a Simple, Clean Format

  • Stick to standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, Georgia
  • Use 10-12pt font size for body, 14-16pt for headings
  • Single column layout (no two-column designs)
  • Standard section headings (Education, Experience, Skills)

2. Avoid These Formatting Mistakes

❌ Don't Use

  • Tables or columns
  • Graphics or images
  • Headers/footers
  • Text boxes
  • Fancy fonts
  • Icons or symbols

✅ Do Use

  • Simple bullet points
  • Standard headings
  • Consistent formatting
  • PDF or .docx format
  • Clear section breaks
  • Standard date formats

3. Save in the Right Format

  • .docx - Best for ATS compatibility
  • .pdf - Good, but some older ATS struggle with it
  • Never: .jpg, .png, or fancy PDF designs

Optimizing Keywords for ATS

ATS ranks resumes based on keyword matching. Here's how to optimize:

1. Mirror the Job Description

Read the job description carefully and include exact phrases they use:

❌ Generic

"Good at coding"

✅ Keyword-Rich

"Proficient in Python, Java, and SQL with experience in RESTful APIs"

2. Include a Skills Section

Create a dedicated skills section with relevant keywords:

Example Skills Section:

Technical Skills: Python, Java, JavaScript, SQL, React, Node.js, AWS, Docker, Git

Tools: VS Code, IntelliJ, Postman, JIRA, Confluence

Soft Skills: Problem-solving, Team collaboration, Communication

3. Use Standard Job Titles

  • Use "Software Developer" not "Code Ninja"
  • Use "Project Intern" not "Summer Associate"
  • Include variations: "SDE / Software Development Engineer"

Perfect Resume Structure for Freshers

  1. Contact Information - Name, Phone, Email, LinkedIn, GitHub
  2. Professional Summary - 2-3 lines highlighting your value (optional for freshers)
  3. Education - Degree, University, Year, CGPA
  4. Technical Skills - Languages, frameworks, tools
  5. Projects - 2-3 relevant projects with descriptions
  6. Internship/Experience - If any
  7. Certifications - Relevant courses completed
  8. Achievements - Hackathons, competitions, awards

💡 Pro Tips

  • Keep it to 1 page for freshers
  • Quantify achievements ("Improved load time by 40%")
  • Use action verbs (Developed, Implemented, Designed)
  • Tailor your resume for each job application
  • Test your resume with free ATS scanners

Free ATS Resume Checkers

  • Jobscan - Compare resume to job description
  • Resume Worded - AI-powered feedback
  • TopResume - Free ATS scan
  • Our Resume Screener - Check your resume here

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Using creative templates from Canva - Beautiful but ATS-unfriendly
  2. Stuffing keywords unnaturally - ATS can detect keyword stuffing
  3. Using abbreviations without spelling out - Write "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)"
  4. Including photos - Not ATS-friendly and can cause bias
  5. Using the same resume for every job - Customize for each application

Final Checklist

  • ☐ Simple, single-column format
  • ☐ Standard fonts and sizing
  • ☐ No tables, graphics, or headers/footers
  • ☐ Keywords from job description included
  • ☐ Dedicated skills section
  • ☐ Standard section headings
  • ☐ Saved as .docx or simple PDF
  • ☐ Contact information is plain text (not in header)
  • ☐ 1 page length
  • ☐ Proofread for typos

Remember: Your resume needs to impress both the ATS and the human recruiter. Focus on a clean format with relevant keywords, and you'll significantly increase your chances of landing interviews. Good luck! 🍀