{"id":21395,"date":"2025-08-06T11:00:39","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T16:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resumespice.com\/?p=21395"},"modified":"2025-07-23T16:05:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T21:05:08","slug":"ats-resume-template","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resumespice.com\/ats-resume-template\/","title":{"rendered":"ATS Resume Template: Plus 9 Tips for Creating an ATS Friendly Resume (2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"

A well-written resume can take hours to create and polish.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So it\u2019s understandably discouraging when the document you spent hours crafting doesn\u2019t make it past the dreaded applicant tracking system (ATS).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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An ATS is software that\u2019s used by hiring teams to help them collect, scan, and rank submitted resumes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And you\u2019re not wrong to be apprehensive. More than <\/span>95% of large companies<\/span><\/a> use an ATS to analyze resumes and <\/span>75% of resumes<\/span><\/a> are never even read by a human.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Luckily, there are ways to beat the bots – and design a resume that performs well on an ATS scan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Below we\u2019re going to outline how applicant tracking systems actually work, present an ATS friendly template, and share nine ATS resume tips<\/b> to create a resume that will increase your chances of getting to the next step in the hiring process!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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What is an applicant tracking system (ATS)?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

An ATS is essentially software that prescreens resume<\/a>s<\/a>. And although ATS systems can differ by company, they\u2019re all designed to quickly analyze resumes according to specific algorithms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As you can imagine, large companies receive thousands of applications every month. An ATS can significantly speed up the overall recruitment process by reducing the amount of required manual (i.e., human) review required.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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How does an ATS work?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Consider an ATS to be a type of gatekeeper for hiring managers. It ranks candidates by most to least qualified and shows the hiring team who might be the best fit for the job.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If a resume is formatted correctly and includes the right keywords – and passes the ATS screening – it\u2019s typically then reviewed by a human decision-maker. These elements are essential to get right to ensure that you make it past this first screening step.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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ATS resume template for Word<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Check out this free 2025 Word resume template optimized specifically for ATS scans. Designed for all types of experience levels — from beginner to experienced — this template is easy to download and add in your details.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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Download the free template here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

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How to create an ATS friendly resume<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Customize the above template by following these nine tips.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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1. Don\u2019t get fancy with your resume.<\/b><\/b><\/h3>\r\n

There are times when glitz and glam are appropriate in the business world. Your resume is not one of those times.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Fancy templates with different fonts and graphics are difficult for ATS\u2019s to interpret. Your information gets scrambled in the system and never even makes it to the hiring manager. <\/span>Create a straightforward resume that\u2019s easy for an ATS to scan.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\r\n

One way to do this is to<\/span> order your information chronologically<\/b> (i.e. organize experience from most recent to oldest). Avoid fancy graphics, italics, and underlining. Also avoid unique fonts. Instead, go with <\/span>common fonts<\/span><\/a> like Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial and a standard 11 point font size.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It might hurt if you\u2019re the creative type, but trust us; an ATS isn\u2019t grading you on creativity.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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2. Include standard headings<\/b><\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Write section headings that an applicant tracking system can easily understand and organize.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Think of an ATS as being an older, traditional recruiter who has 30 years of experience under their belt. Creative headers like \u201cWhy I\u2019m the Perfect Fit\u201d or \u201cWhere I Graduated\u201d aren\u2019t going to resonate. It actually confuses the system.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Here are standard resume headings that are recognized by ATS software:<\/span><\/p>\r\n