ATS Optimization Guide
Learn how applicant tracking systems read your resume, and how to make yours easy for them to read. Want a quick benchmark before you start? Run our free ATS resume checker to see where you stand.
By Adam Smith, EditorPublished Updated
The largest US companies almost all use an ATS
Jobscan's 2026 ATS usage report (read 5 October 2026) found an applicant tracking system at 487 of the Fortune 500 companies. The software stores and sorts applications, and recruiters search and filter them. A resume it cannot read cleanly may lose details or sit lower in that list, so the formatting advice below matters.
What is an ATS?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software employers use to collect, store and sort job applications. It reads your resume into fields such as job titles, dates and skills. Recruiters then search and filter those fields, often by keywords from the job advert, to decide which applications to read first.
Popular ATS systems include Taleo, Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, and iCIMS. Each system reads files slightly differently, so the practices below aim to make your resume easy for any of them to read.
ATS Optimization Checklist
Your ATS Score
Check items as you complete them to track your progress.
Formatting
Keywords
Content
Before & After Examples
❌ ATS-Unfriendly
PROFESSIONAL NINJA 🚀
Rockstar developer who crushes code
2020-Now | Tech Startup
• Did lots of cool stuff with computers
• Made things better
• Worked on projects
- ❌ Non-standard job title
- ❌ Emojis and special characters
- ❌ Vague descriptions without keywords
- ❌ Inconsistent date format
- ❌ No quantifiable achievements
✅ ATS-Friendly
Senior Software Engineer
Tech Startup | 01/2020 - Present
• Developed full-stack web applications using React, Node.js, and PostgreSQL
• Improved application performance by 45% through code optimization
• Led team of 4 engineers on customer-facing features, increasing user engagement by 30%
- ✅ Standard job title
- ✅ Clean formatting, no special characters
- ✅ Keywords (React, Node.js, PostgreSQL)
- ✅ Consistent date format (MM/YYYY)
- ✅ Quantified achievements with metrics
Popular ATS Systems
Taleo
Used mainly by large enterprises
Workday
Popular for enterprise HR management and recruiting
Greenhouse
Common in tech startups and high-growth companies
Lever
Modern ATS popular with tech companies
iCIMS
Enterprise-level applicant tracking platform
Others
Various smaller ATS providers and custom systems