What job seekers need to know about applicant tracking systems

Picture this: you've crafted the perfect resume, tailored your cover letter, and clicked "submit" on what feels like your dream job. Then... nothing. Radio silence. Meanwhile, you're wondering if anyone even looked at your application.

The frustrating reality is that 75% of job applications don't get seen by human eyes. If you are’t optimizing for Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS, there’s a good chance your resumes aren’t making it past

So what exactly is an ATS?

An ATS is software that companies use to filter out what they assume to be irrelevant job applications they receive. The average corporate job posting gets 250 applicants (some positions at well-known companies can receive over 1,400 applications). No human can reasonably review that volume, so companies turn to technology to sort through the pile.

Think of an ATS as a very literal-minded assistant. (Not the ideal person to evaluate you, but sadly this is how the corporate overlords operate) It scans your resume, extracts information like your skills and job titles, stores everything in a searchable database, and helps recruiters find candidates using specific keywords. When a recruiter searches for "project management" or "Python programming," only resumes containing those exact terms will show up.

Why ATS can get in the way of your next job

While everyone’s skillset and how they talk about it is nuanced, we unfortunately live in a time when the tools employers evaluate us with are not. Qualified candidates are getting screened out because these systems are very unforgiving and blunt.

Formatting can break everything. Tables, graphics, fancy fonts, and creative layouts confuse parsing algorithms. Your beautifully designed resume with that elegant two-column layout? The ATS might read it as gibberish.

Exact keywords matter. If the job posting mentions "CPA" but your resume only says "Certified Public Accountant," the ATS might not make the connection. The system is looking for exact matches, not logical equivalents.

Inconsistent formatting trips up the system. Details as small as mixed date formats like "01/01/2024" and "January 1, 2024" on the same resume can confuse the parsing software and skip content.

ATS systems remove approximately 70% of resumes that don't match set criteria, demonstrating just how strict these filtering capabilities can be and why it’s more important than every to tailor every resume for that exact job posting.

How you can fight the robots and win

With the right tools, you can format and optimize content to increase your chances of getting past the bots and in front of the people who can hire you. Every.cv is designed to take the make it easier for you to optimize a resume for each job you apply for without pulling your hair out.

Our platform helps you:

Format for ATS Automatically. No more guessing whether your layout will parse correctly. Our templates use single-column designs, standard fonts, and proper section headings that ATS systems recognize while still giving you enough control to personalize.

Match keywords strategically. Instead of playing keyword bingo and hoping for the best, you can analyze job descriptions and see exactly which terms you are leaving out.

Personalized feedback. Crafting the perfect resume takes care and nuance for each job you apply for. That’s why our content feedback tool references the exact job you are applying for to give you personalized feedback on how to improve your chances of getting past the robots so you can get in front of the humans.

Modern job searching means understanding that your resume has two audiences: the software that screens it and the person who ultimately decides to interview you. Success comes from crafting content that serves both purposes well. We are here to help you do that so you can get to work in your next job.