How to Beat Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) in 2026: 10 Steps

You can’t really beat the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), because it’s not some evil gatekeeper; it’s just software that collects, parses, and ranks resumes. It only automatically rejects candidates who fail knockout questions, like work authorization or required experience. To improve your chances of being ranked higher, use a simple, single-column template, standard headings, and a professional font; include the exact keywords and job title from the posting; highlight measurable achievements; list your skills clearly; spell out acronyms; and proofread carefully. Submit the correct file type (PDF or Word), and consider using an ATS checker. And don’t rely solely on your application; network and get referrals to make sure your resume is seen by a human. 

Anyone claiming they can help you beat the Applicant Tracking System is selling you a lie. 

There’s no trick to gaming it. No hidden shield. No black hole where resumes disappear because the software doesn’t like them. 

You can’t “beat” the Applicant Tracking System. 

We give ATS way too much credit. It’s not nearly as sophisticated or malicious as people make it sound. 

In this guide, I’ll clear up the confusion about: 

• What the Applicant Tracking System actually is and how it works. 
• How to make your resume readable and searchable for ATS. 
• What an ATS-optimized resume actually looks like. 

Make your ATS-friendly resume today with our free AI Resume Builder. 

Or check out our deeper dives on: 

• Why Your ATS Parse Failed 
• ATS Myths Debunked 
• Tips to Optimize a Resume for ATS 
• AI Resume Screening Explained 

What Is an Applicant Tracking System? 

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software employers use to manage applications and speed up hiring. When you apply, the system collects your details, stores your resume, and makes it searchable for recruiters. It scans for keywords, skills, and qualifications, then sorts and ranks candidates based on how closely they align with the job description. 

That’s it. It’s not some hyper-intelligent machine waiting to shred your resume if you format it wrong. 

One recruiter on Reddit described an ATS as a “glorified filing cabinet with a search bar.” That’s honestly not far off. 

It’s not all-powerful. And sometimes, it’s not even that smooth. Take it from this HR professional: 

How does an ATS work? 

Not all Applicant Tracking Systems work the same, but here’s what most of them do: 

• Collects your application. When you apply through a company’s careers page or a job board, your resume is pulled into a central database. 
• Organizes your information. The system parses your resume into sections like contact details, work history, education, and skills for easier filtering. 
• Applies non-negotiable filters. If the employer uses knockout questions (work authorization, minimum years of experience), the ATS can automatically remove you if you don’t meet those criteria. 
• Makes resumes searchable. Recruiters can search by keywords or apply filters for specific skills and experience. Some systems also generate a match score for each candidate. 
• Ranks based on overall fit. Many systems sort candidates by relevance and recency. If a role requires Python, C++, and RESTful API skills, and you only list Python, you’ll rank lower but won’t be automatically eliminated. 
• Manages the hiring workflow. Beyond screening, the ATS helps post jobs, track candidates, schedule interviews, send automated emails, and generate hiring reports.

How to “Beat” the Applicant Tracking System 

Here’s how to get your resume noticed by ATS and hiring managers: 

• Apply to roles you actually meet the requirements for. 
• Match the exact keywords and job title from the posting. 
• Show measurable results with numbers. 
• Use a clean, single-column layout with standard headings. 
• Add a clear skills section and spell out acronyms. 
• Keep formatting simple with bullets, consistent spacing, and plain-text links. 
• Choose a professional font and skip graphics, charts, and text boxes. 
• Proofread carefully to avoid missed keyword matches. 
• Submit the requested file type (PDF if unspecified). 
• Use the Rezi ATS checker to spot gaps quickly. 
• Network: referrals often get resumes seen faster. 

You can’t beat the ATS. The system only removes candidates who fail the knockout questions: 

But if your resume isn’t easy for the system to read, it won’t rank well. 

Using a fancy Canva template with text boxes or complex designs can cause sections of your resume to get scrambled or missed entirely during parsing. 

If your resume is easy to scan and clearly matches the job requirements, it’s more likely to rank higher in search results. 

1. Apply for jobs in your field 

I’ve done it too: applied for roles I’m nowhere near qualified for, hoping someone wants to make a personality hire. 

But unless you can show strong transferable skills, this isn’t an ATS problem. 

If competition is high, recruiters will prioritize candidates who actually meet the requirements. And if an application question asks, “Do you have at least two years of experience as a [role]?” and you answer no, you’re probably out of the running for this one. 

That’s not the system being unfair. It’s doing exactly what it was set up to do. 

2. Pick out keywords from the job description 

Read the job description carefully. The skills, tools, certifications, and phrases repeated throughout are usually what the hiring manager is using to filter candidates. 

And often, it’s the exact wording that matters. Some systems understand variations, many don’t. So don’t assume they will. 

If the job description says “conflict resolution,” include that phrase. Writing “de-escalated tense customer situations” or “resolved customer complaints” might not rank as highly because the wording doesn’t match. 

Manually tailoring every application takes time. To speed things up, try our free AI Keyword Targeting tool. Paste in the job post to see which keywords you already have, which ones you’re missing, and add them to your resume in seconds. 

Here’s a sample job post: 

And here’s what the AI Keyword Targeting tool extracted: 

Related reading: 

• Tips for Targeting a Job Description 
• How to Use AI to Tailor a Resume to the Job Post 
• How to Find Keywords Missing on a Resume 

3. Scatter keywords naturally throughout your resume 

Tailor your resume by naturally including keywords from the job description in your work experience bullet points, relevant education details, and anywhere else they apply. 

Whatever you do, don’t keyword-stuff or hide terms in white text so the ATS can find them. Recruiters know that trick, and it won’t help you. 

Add the most important keywords to your resume summary too, but only if they truly apply to you. 

Need help? Use our AI Resume Summary Generator and choose the specific skills you want it to include. 

Read more: How to Use Resume Keywords to Pass ATS. 

4. Write about your measurable achievements 

Numbers make your experience clearer and stronger. Quantify your impact using money, time, volume, or percentages. For example: 

• How much time or money you saved the company (by working efficiently, catching errors, or upgrading systems). 
• How many clients, projects, or team members you managed. 
• Percentage improvements (especially when exact numbers aren’t available). 

Learn more about Achievements for a Resume. 

5. Mention the job title in your resume 

Many recruiters search by title. If the title in the posting accurately reflects what you do, include it on your resume. 

If you’ve performed essentially the same role under a slightly different name (like Customer Support Specialist and Customer Support Representative), it’s okay to align the wording, as long as it’s honest. 

If the exact title isn’t in your work history, include it in your resume summary. For example: 

Innovative Software Engineer with expertise in Java, SQL, and cloud computing. AWS Certified Solutions Architect with a track record of improving system efficiency by 50% through cloud infrastructure optimization. Eager to bring this technical expertise to Blue Haven. 

6. List your skills in a skills section 

Alongside weaving skills into your bullet points, create a clear skills section. This helps the ATS and the hiring manager quickly see your strengths. 

Focus on the job description, don’t make it too long, and group related skills together when possible. 

7. Use standard section headings 

Don’t get creative with your section titles. The ATS scans for headings like “Experience,” so if yours says something like “Occupations Past & Present,” it might not recognize it. 

Keep it simple: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, plus any relevant extras like Projects, Certifications, or Awards & Honors. 

8. Go with a professional font 

Fancy fonts like Aguafina Script may look good, but they don’t belong on a resume. 

Choose a standard, clean, and readable resume font like Calibri, Helvetica, or Merriweather. My personal favorite is Calibri; it’s reliable and professional. 

9. Spell out acronyms and abbreviations 

ATS may not recognize your acronyms or abbreviations. Use the full phrase (e.g., Human Resources) and add the acronym in parentheses (HR), or include it somewhere else on your resume. That way, you cover all bases. 

10. Choose a basic resume template 

Creative resumes may look impressive, but that won’t matter if the ATS can’t read them. Fancy layouts can jumble your content, lower your ranking, and make hiring managers skip your resume entirely if they stop after the first 50 candidates. Double-column templates often appear as one messy block, making your experience and education hard to parse. 

Stick with a simple, single-column, black-and-white template with no gimmicks. For a safe option, try our ATS-friendly resume templates. Edit them in our resume builder or download a free Word or Google Doc to customize. 

Get inspired: 

• Free Rezi Google Docs Resume Template 
• Basic Resume Templates 
• Professional Resume Templates 
• Best Resume Templates in 2026 

11. Keep your formatting straightforward 

If you’re creating your resume yourself, follow these formatting tips: 

• Font sizes. 9–12 pt for body text, 14–16 pt for headings. 
• Spacing and margins. Single or 1.15 spacing with one-inch margins. 
• Bullet points. Use them for work achievements, awards, or certification details. 
• Links. Include LinkedIn or portfolio links in plain text, and avoid embedded hyperlinks. 

12. Leave out graphics 

Charts, images, tables, skill bars, logos, and graphs might look fun and modern, but the ATS can’t read them properly. Stick to simple text. 

If you really want to emphasize job titles or company names, bold or underline them. 

13. Check for typos 

It’d be so frustrating to be perfectly qualified for a role but lose points for misspelling “management.” The ATS mightn’t recognize the keyword and could rank you lower. 

Proofread carefully and use Grammarly. You can also try our AI Resume Agent to check grammar, improve keyword coverage, and strengthen your resume writing skills. Whatever task you have for your application, it can help you polish it up quickly. 

14. Use the Rezi ATS Resume Checker 

I used to ask a friend to glance over my resume before sending it (which felt like the blind leading the blind, really). 

Now the Rezi Score does it for me. It flags grammar mistakes and gives actionable feedback, from keeping your resume to one page, to using 3–6 bullet points per job, spelling out months, and choosing strong action verbs without personal pronouns. 

You get a score from 1 to 100 and a clear indication of whether your resume is ready to send. And hitting 100 is pretty satisfying. 

15. Save it as a PDF 

Check the job description first — if they ask for a Word doc, send a Word doc. It mightn’t be just a preference; their ATS might parse Word files better. 

If no format is specified, default to PDF. That way, your formatting stays consistent no matter where it’s opened. 

Read up on The Best Resume File Format: PDF or DOCX? 

16. Network 

Don’t rely solely on submitting an application. If you know someone at the company, ask for a referral. Referrals carry more weight than cold applications and significantly increase the chances your resume gets read. 

If you don’t know anyone, connect with employees on LinkedIn and send a thoughtful message after applying.

As Daniel Chait, CEO of Greenhouse Software, puts it: 

“People need to focus more on the people and the decision-making behind those job processes, and less on the software filing the applicants.” 

His advice: set job alerts so you can apply quickly, tailor your resume properly, and build real connections inside the company. 

What an ATS Resume Looks Like 

An ATS resume is simply a resume that can be properly parsed and read by Applicant Tracking Systems, one that follows all the best practices we’ve covered above. 

Like our standard resume template: 

Why Is My Resume Still Not Being Read by a Human? 

Your resume may not be getting read because it’s either not aligned closely enough with the job or you’re competing against too many equally qualified candidates. 

If your resume isn’t getting traction, it could be because: 

1. It’s not tailored enough. 
2. Maybe you’re missing key skills from the job description. 
3. Your content isn’t easy to scan. 

But if you’re doing all of that, it mightn’t be about ATS at all. 

You’re probably competing with hundreds of qualified applicants. Hiring managers sometimes review enough resumes to build a shortlist, then stop reading. Not because the rest aren’t good, but because they don’t need more. 

Sometimes it comes down to small differences: someone has one more year of experience. Someone worked at a company they recognized. Someone listed a tool the hiring manager prefers. 

Recruiters can afford to be selective. And sometimes, the decision isn’t as deep as we’d like to think. 

One recruiter shared his experience using BrassRing: 

Top Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Examples 

The most popular Applicant Tracking Systems range from simple recruiting tools for small teams to enterprise platforms built for global hiring. 

Some are designed for startups that just need to track candidates. Others handle high-volume recruiting with automation, reporting dashboards, integrations, and layered approval processes. 

No two systems are exactly the same; they vary in features, flexibility, and the control they give your hiring team. 

Here are some of the most well-known ATS platforms:

What to look for in an Applicant Tracking System? 

A good Applicant Tracking System should make hiring feel more organized. It should simplify your workflow, keep everyone aligned, and reduce repetitive admin tasks. 

If you’re a hiring manager and not sure what you need yet, start by looking at how your team hires today. Where do things slow down? Where does communication break? The right ATS should solve these friction points. 

Here’s a practical checklist to guide your decision: 

• Can it support your real hiring flow (multiple stages, approvals, interview rounds, different role types)? 
• Can it handle your application volume without slowing down? 
• Does the dashboard clearly show open roles, candidates, and next steps? 
• Can your team review resumes, leave feedback, and move candidates forward efficiently? 
• Is it obvious who’s interviewing, who needs feedback, and where each candidate stands? 
• Does it allow shared notes to reduce back-and-forth emails? 
• Can you automate candidate communications like confirmations, rejections, and interview details? 
• Will candidates receive consistent updates so they don’t feel ghosted? 
• Does it automate admin tasks like scheduling and reminders? 
• Can you track hiring metrics like time-to-hire, source of hire, pipeline bottlenecks, and offer acceptance rates? 
• Is reporting easy to export for compliance, diversity tracking, and internal reviews? 
• Does it integrate with your existing tools (email, calendars, HRIS, background checks)? 

Summary 

Here’s a recap of how to beat the Applicant Tracking System: 

• You can’t really beat the ATS; it only automatically rejects candidates who fail knockout questions like work authorization or minimum experience. 
• An ATS is software that collects your application, parses your resume, organizes information, and ranks candidates based on job requirements. 
• To improve your ranking, tailor your resume to the job by including exact keywords from the description naturally throughout your experience, certifications, and summary. 
• Highlight measurable achievements with numbers, percentages, or volume to make your impact clear. 
• Use standard headings, a professional font, a single-column layout, and clean formatting. 
• Leave out graphics, tables, text boxes, and images so the ATS can read your resume properly. 
• List your skills in a dedicated section, spell out acronyms, and carefully check for typos. 
• Send your resume in the requested format (PDF or Word), or just go with a PDF if unspecified. 
• Don’t rely only on applications; network, seek referrals, connect on LinkedIn, and set job alerts to increase the chances of being noticed. 
• There are many ATS platforms, like Workable, iCIMS, and Workday, and hiring managers should choose one that matches their workflow, volume, automation, and integration needs. 

FAQ 

What is resume scanning software? 

Resume scanning software is part of an ATS that reads your resume, pulls out key info like work history, skills, and education, and ranks candidates based on job requirements. Clear formatting, matching keywords, and relevant details help your resume get noticed and ranked higher. 

How to pass the Workday ATS? 

You don’t need to trick Workday or any ATS; just make your resume easy to read and keyword-rich. Use simple formatting, a single-column layout, standard headings, and include the exact job title and key phrases from the job post. Avoid graphics, text boxes, and images, and fill in all application fields. 

What is the easiest way to make a resume? 

The easiest and quickest way is with an AI resume builder. Pick a template, fill in your sections, get guided tips, and use their tools for formatting, quantifying achievements, and tailoring your resume to the job. 

Check out How to Use the Rezi Resume Builder. 

What are the best keywords for employee evaluations? 

Use specific, action-oriented words that show performance, like “collaborates,” “takes initiative,” “meets deadlines,” “coaches others,” “adapts to change,” “solves problems,” “drives results,” or “communicates clearly.” Align them with your company’s values, like “customer-focused” or “data-driven,” and pair each keyword with a real example. 

How many companies use ATS? 

ATS are widely used by nearly 99% of Fortune 500 companies, 70% of large firms, and 20% of small and mid-sized businesses. 94% of recruiters agree that ATS has improved their hiring efficiency, helping filter candidates and manage applications more effectively (Select Software Reviews). 

Why shouldn’t you use headers or footers in a resume? 

Many ATS can’t read Word headers or footers, so important information like your name, email, or phone number might be missed. Always place your contact details in the main body at the top of your resume to make sure the system captures them, and recruiters can find you easily.