Are you aware that most big companies, about 70%, and even 1 in 5 smaller ones use something called an ATS for hiring? If you don’t already know what an ATS is, it is a software used by employers to streamline the hiring process.
The software works by scanning and filtering resumes based on how well they match a job description or vacancy.
Let’s even understand why recruiters and employers use them in the first place.
When 500 people apply for one role, no one has time to open every single résumé and even if they do have time, imagine how overwhelming and time wasting it will take. So, that’s why they rely on ATS software to do the first round of sorting
An ATS helps recruiters stay organized. It sorts through resumes, tracks where each candidate is in the process, and gives useful data to help them make better hiring decisions.
However, these systems have grown more advanced. They don't just look for exact keyword matches. They also assess formatting, context, and relevance. This makes it more important than ever to create a resume that’s not just impressive to a human recruiter but also tailored to these systems.
To make this easier, MyJobMag has a free CV Matcher Tool that compares your resume with any job post, instantly telling you how well it matches and where to improve.
Try MyJobMag’s free CV matcher tool now
An ATS-friendly resume is designed specifically to be read and understood by Applicant Tracking Systems. Unlike a traditional resume written only for human readers, an ATS-friendly resume speaks the language of software. This means that it’s structured in a way that machines can accurately scan, interpret, and score it.
Let’s show you how it works.
When you submit your resume online, the system parses the document and looks for specific criteria such as keywords, job titles, and qualifications that match what the employer has listed in the job description. If your resume lacks the right keywords or is formatted in a way the system can’t read, it might never reach the recruiter even if you’re highly qualified.
Most resumes usually don’t make it past the ATS. And it’s not because of lack skills. It is likely because your resume isn’t structured for the software to understand. Here are some common reasons:
Many job seekers are drawn to visually striking resume templates. Yes, those ones with columns, icons, graphics, or colour blocks. While these may appear impressive to humans, most ATS software struggles to interpret them. A column layout, for example, might confuse the ATS into reading your experience as a broken timeline or mislabeling your skills.
Even today’s more advanced ATS software still relies on structured logic. That means if your layout doesn’t follow a linear format, the algorithm might miss or misread key information entirely.
The number one reason resumes are rejected is keyword mismatch. If a job description calls for data analysis, and your resume says data review, the ATS might not count that as a match.
ATS systems have improved their ability to detect related terms, but they still prioritize exact or near-exact matches.
Also, submitting CVs as images or as a Google Doc link can make it unreadable to ATS software.
Some applicants try to get creative with section names like “My Journey” instead of “Work Experience” or “What I Bring to the Table” instead of “Skills”.
Unfortunately, ATS isn’t poetic. It’s trained to look for common terms. Anything outside of that can be skipped or misclassified.
People often assume ATS systems are still as rigid as they were five years ago. However, in 2025, systems now utilise semantic AI, enabling them to interpret context more effectively. However, they still lean heavily on relevance and structure. If you try to trick the system, it’ll show in your match score.
Simplicity of design: Avoid graphics, tables, columns, and fancy formatting.
Keyword accuracy: Use the exact phrases found in the job description.
Standard section headings: Stick to familiar headings like Work Experience, Skills, and Education so the ATS knows where to find information.
Clean, readable fonts: Use fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Anything overly stylized can hinder parsing.
Correct file format: Not many people know this but most ATS tools handle .docx files best. Some accept PDFs, but not all parse them correctly so .docx is your safer option.
The structure of your resume matters. While you might be tempted to stand out with creative layouts, ATS software prefers plain formats. To stay ahead, try this format:
Reverse-chronological format: This type lists your most recent experience first and is the most ATS-compatible layout. It's ideal if you have a consistent work history.
Avoid formats which hide dates and employers. Also, avoid any design-heavy templates with graphic elements (icons, logos), and tables.
ATS software scans your resume for keywords that match the job description. If the job post mentions specific tools, skills, or qualifications, your resume should reflect those exact terms.
Start by reading the job description carefully.
For example, if a job post mentions product management, make sure that exact phrase appears naturally in your resume, especially under your experience and skills.
When you use the MyJobMag CV Matcher Tool, it will show your match score and suggest edits to improve ATS compatibility.
Every section of your resume should be clear, well-organised, and keyword-rich. Here's how to structure the key parts:
Professional Summary
Write a short summary of 3–4 lines that highlights your most relevant experience, key skills, and what you bring to the role. Include keywords from the job description here.
Work Experience
List your jobs in reverse-chronological order. Start with your job title, then the company name, location, and dates of employment. Under each role, use bullet points to:
Focus on achievements, not just duties
Use action verbs (e.g., led, designed, improved)
Add numbers if possible (e.g., Increased sales by 30%)
Skills Section
Create a list of skills that match the job description. Group them clearly. For example:
Technical skills: Excel, SQL, Adobe Photoshop
Soft skills: Communication, Teamwork, Time Management
The skills section is one of the first places the ATS scans for matches, so keep it relevant and specific.
As earlier mentioned, many free or fancy designs online may look great but completely fail when scanned by ATS.
To stay safe, use a clean, single-column template with clearly labelled sections. If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend using a proven example. For instance, this resume scored high on both ATS and the MyJobMag CV Matcher Tool. It's simple, well-organised, and keyword-optimised for a digital marketing role.
Anthonia Mavese
Lagos, Nigeria | +234 812 325 6789 | anthonia.mavese@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/anthonia
Professional Summary
Digital Marketing Specialist with 5+ years of hands-on experience in executing ROI-driven SEO, PPC, and email marketing campaigns across tech and e-commerce sectors. Skilled in using Google Ads, GA4, HubSpot, and Meta Ads Manager to scale acquisition efforts. Improved lead generation by 3.5x and reduced CPA by 25% through strategic A/B testing, landing page optimization, and automation. Seeking to drive data-led growth at a high-performing digital team.
Key Skills
● SEO/SEM (Yoast, Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, SEMrush)
● Paid Ads (Google Ads, Meta Ads, Retargeting, Display)
● Email Marketing (HubSpot, Mailchimp, Drip)
● GA4, Google Tag Manager, Looker Studio
● Copywriting & Funnel Optimization
● A/B Testing, Heatmaps (Hotjar, CrazyEgg)
● CRM Systems & Marketing Automation
● E-commerce Strategy (Shopify, WooCommerce)
Professional Experience
Digital Marketing Executive
MyJobMag – Lagos, Nigeria
Mar 2021 – Present
● Grew organic traffic from 12K to 26K/month in under a year by revamping blog content, internal linking, and technical SEO (via Screaming Frog & SEMrush)
● Managed ₦1.5M+ monthly Google Ads budget; optimized campaigns to reduce CPC from ₦65 to ₦48, increasing leads by 40%
● Led lifecycle email campaigns via HubSpot, achieving 36% open rate (vs 22% industry avg) and 19% click-through rate
● Built and tested 15+ high-converting landing pages (avg. 11.3% CVR) using Unbounce and Google Optimize
● Tracked and visualized performance metrics via GA4 and Looker Studio, enabling data-driven decisions
Marketing Assistant
Atunwa Retail – Lagos, Nigeria
Jan 2019 – Feb 2021
● Assisted with 3 national retail campaigns, helping drive 20% YoY customer growth and 15% uptick in retention
● Wrote and optimized 30+ blog articles, boosting rankings for 10+ key search terms into Google’s top 5
● Coordinated social campaigns across 4 platforms using Buffer, increasing Instagram engagement by 60% in 6 months
● Compiled and analyzed competitor data monthly, contributing to data-led ad creative shifts and pricing strategy
Education
B.Sc. Mass Communication
University of Lagos – 2018
Certifications
● Google Ads Search – Google (2024)
● Content Marketing – HubSpot (2023)
● Email Marketing – Coursera / Meta (2023)
Projects
Website SEO Overhaul – Freelance (Q3 2023) Redesigned and restructured a local fashion e-commerce site (WooCommerce), implemented schema markup, keyword clustering, and rewrote all product copy.
Result: 78% increase in organic traffic and 2x online sales within 3 months.
If you’re just starting your career, you might think you have nothing to offer, but that’s not true. Even without job experience, you can create an ATS-friendly resume that highlights your strengths. Follow these steps:
1. Focus on Skills and Keywords
Read the job description carefully and identify what skills are required. Then match your soft skills, technical abilities, or academic projects to those terms. For example, if a job requires data analysis and you have experience with projects using Excel or SPSS, be sure to mention it clearly.
2. Highlight Certifications and Courses
If you’ve taken any online courses, certifications, or workshops relevant to the role (e.g., Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Google certifications), include them in a separate Certifications or Training section.
3. Use Internships and Volunteer Work
Don’t leave out internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer roles. Structure them like regular experiences:
Job title
Company/Organisation
Duration
Bullet points showing what you did and what you achieved
4. Keep the Format Simple
Follow the same formatting rules. No graphics, no columns, and clear section headings.
5. Use MyJobMag CV Matcher Tool
Before submitting your resume, run it through the MyJobMag CV Matcher Tool to make sure you’ve hit the right keywords even as a fresher.
Yes, most modern ATS software can read PDFs, but not all. To be safe, submit your resume as a .docx file unless the job posting specifically asks for a PDF. Avoid scanned documents or image-based PDFs, as ATS can't read them at all.
Stick to standard, readable fonts such as:
Arial
Calibri
Times New Roman
Verdana
Use a tool like the MyJobMag CV Matcher. It shows you how well your resume aligns with the job description and flags formatting or keyword issues.
The safest choice is .docx (Microsoft Word). But always check the instructions. If nothing is mentioned, go with a .docx file to ensure compatibility.
Applying with a resume that looks fancy will likely not get you that job, especially if it’s a big company that uses ATS. It has to be readable by machines first. With a simple format, the right keywords, and a clear layout, your resume can easily bypass any ATS. Even better, MyJobMag CV Matcher can help you check how well your resume fits the job before you hit submit.
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