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ATS Resume Checklist — What Recruiters Actually See
Before your resume reaches a human recruiter, it likely passes through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) — software that parses, stores, and scores resumes automatically. Most job seekers don't realize their beautifully designed PDF is being read as garbled text by the ATS. Here's what to check.
How to Write ATS-Beating Bullet Points
Start each bullet with a strong action verb (Led, Built, Reduced, Increased, Managed, Designed, Launched). Include a measurable result where possible: "Reduced deployment time by 40%" beats "Helped with deployments".
Keep bullets to 120 characters or fewer so they don't wrap awkwardly on both the preview and printed page.
Keyword Strategy
Copy keywords directly from the job description — ATS systems often do literal string matching. If the job says "project management" and your resume says "managing projects," you may not score a match. Use the exact phrasing the employer uses.
File Format
PDF is preferred by most ATS systems today (the "Save as PDF via Print" method this tool uses produces a proper, text-selectable PDF — not a scanned image). If an employer specifically requests a .docx, you'll need a word processor.
One Page vs. Two Pages
For 0–5 years of experience: one page is the gold standard. For 5–15 years: two pages is acceptable and often expected. For senior leaders: up to three pages. The compact template helps fit more experience on one page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — completely free, no account required, no watermark on the PDF. Everything runs in your browser. There are no hidden costs or "premium" unlock required to download.
All three templates use standard single or clean two-column layouts with semantic HTML and system fonts. No graphics, text boxes, tables, or decorative elements that confuse ATS parsers. The two-column template uses standard flow — not CSS columns that can scramble reading order.
Click "Download PDF (via Print)". Your browser's print dialog opens — set the Destination to "Save as PDF". On Chrome, Firefox, and Edge this is the default option. On Safari, click "PDF" in the bottom-left corner. This produces a text-selectable PDF (not a scanned image), which is preferred by ATS systems.
100%. Your data never leaves your browser. It is saved only in your device's localStorage. We have no server, no database, and no analytics that collect your resume content. You can also export your data as a JSON file and clear localStorage at any time.
Yes. Your draft is auto-saved every time you type (500ms debounce). When you return to the page you'll see a "Restore draft" option. You can also export your resume data as a JSON file and re-import it anytime — even on a different device or browser.
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by most employers (75%+ of Fortune 500) to automatically scan and rank resumes before a human sees them. Fancy graphics, columns, and non-standard fonts often cause ATS systems to misread your resume. Our templates are specifically designed to pass ATS parsing correctly.