How to write a resume that passes the ATS
A practical, no-fluff guide to building a resume that gets parsed correctly by applicant tracking systems and reads well to the recruiter on the other side. Six steps.
1. Start with the right sections
Every strong resume has the same backbone: a header with your name and contact details, a short professional summary, work experience, education, and a focused skills list. Add projects or certifications if they strengthen your case.
Put the most relevant section first. Experienced professionals lead with work history; students and recent graduates lead with education and projects.
2. Use a single-column, ATS-safe layout
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) parse your resume into plain text before a recruiter ever sees it. Two-column layouts, text inside images, and tables often get scrambled or dropped. A clean single column with standard section headings parses reliably.
Stick to standard fonts and real selectable text — not a design exported as an image. Every MantraCV template is single-column and ATS-safe by default.
3. Write bullets that lead with a verb and end with a number
Start each bullet with a strong action verb — Led, Built, Shipped, Reduced, Grew — and quantify the outcome wherever you can: percentages, money, time saved, scale. "Reduced p95 latency 41%" beats "Responsible for performance."
Keep each bullet to one idea and roughly 12–25 words. Cut filler like "responsible for" and "helped with."
4. Tailor keywords to the job
Recruiters and the ATS look for the skills and tools named in the job description. Mirror that language where it's genuinely true of you — if the posting asks for "React, TypeScript, CI/CD," make sure those exact terms appear in your skills or experience.
As you edit in MantraCV, the live ATS score flags missing keywords and weak phrasing so you can fix them before you export.
5. Keep it to one page (two if you're senior)
Most candidates should aim for one page; ten-plus years of relevant experience can justify two. Cut roles older than ~10–15 years to a single line, and remove anything that doesn't support the job you're applying for.
6. Proofread, then export as PDF
Read it out loud to catch typos and awkward phrasing. Check that dates, titles, and company names are consistent. Then export as a PDF (unless the posting asks for DOCX) so your formatting stays intact on every device.
Ready to build it?
Pick an ATS-safe template and write with live scoring guiding every section. Free, exports to PDF or DOCX.