What Is an ATS?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that companies use to manage job applications. When you submit your resume online, it almost certainly passes through an ATS before any human reviews it.
Popular ATS platforms include:
| Platform | Market Share | Notable Users |
|---|---|---|
| Workday | ~30% | Fortune 500 companies |
| Greenhouse | ~15% | Tech startups, mid-size |
| Lever | ~10% | Tech companies |
| iCIMS | ~12% | Enterprise |
| Taleo (Oracle) | ~20% | Large enterprises |
How ATS Parses Your Resume
The ATS does three things with your resume:
1. Text Extraction
The system extracts all text from your document. This is where formatting matters — tables, text boxes, headers/footers, and images are often ignored or misread.
2. Field Mapping
The ATS tries to map your content to standard fields:
- Name and contact info
- Work experience (company, title, dates)
- Education
- Skills
3. Keyword Matching
Your resume is scored against the job description. The closer the match, the higher your ranking.
ATS-Friendly Resume Formatting Rules
Follow these rules to ensure your resume parses correctly:
DO:
✓ Use standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills)
✓ Use a single-column layout
✓ Save as PDF (preserves formatting)
✓ Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
✓ Include dates in MM/YYYY format
DON'T:
✗ Use tables or columns for layout
✗ Put important info in headers/footers
✗ Use graphics, icons, or images
✗ Use creative section names ("Where I've Made Impact")
✗ Submit as .jpg or .png
Keyword Optimization Strategy
The most important factor in ATS scoring is keyword matching. Here's a systematic approach:
Step 1: Analyze the Job Description
Copy the job description into a word frequency tool. Identify the top 10-15 terms that appear multiple times.
Step 2: Map Keywords to Your Experience
For each keyword, find where it naturally fits in your resume. Don't stuff keywords — integrate them into real accomplishments.
Step 3: Use Both Acronyms and Full Terms
ATS systems vary in intelligence. Some match "ML" to "Machine Learning," others don't. Include both:
Machine Learning (ML) models for predictive analytics
Common ATS Myths
Myth: "I need a plain text resume for ATS" Reality: Modern ATS handles well-formatted PDFs perfectly. Plain text looks unprofessional to human reviewers.
Myth: "White text with hidden keywords will boost my score" Reality: Modern ATS detects this. It's also dishonest and will get you rejected if a human notices.
Myth: "ATS rejects resumes with no keywords" Reality: ATS ranks and scores — humans make the final call. A low-scoring resume might still get reviewed if the applicant pool is small.
How Superpower Resume Helps
Our AI analyzes the job description, identifies critical keywords, and generates a resume that naturally incorporates them into your real experience. No keyword stuffing, no tricks — just intelligent tailoring that works with both ATS and human reviewers.
Sources
- Jobscan ATS Statistics — Data on ATS adoption rates, how many Fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems, and resume rejection rates
- SHRM: The Rise of Talent Intelligence — SHRM research on how hiring technology and automated screening tools are reshaping the recruitment process
- Harvard Business School: Hidden Workers — Research on how automated hiring systems filter out qualified candidates due to rigid keyword and criteria matching
