Avoid These 5 ATS Resume Mistakes (Most Job Seekers Don’t Know These)
If you're sending out resume after resume and not hearing back, there's a high chance your resume isn’t even being seen by a human.
That’s not an exaggeration — it’s the result of something called an ATS (Applicant Tracking System).
Most companies today use ATS software to scan and filter resumes before a recruiter ever sees them. If your resume doesn’t pass this filter, it goes straight to the rejection pile.
Here are 5 common ATS mistakes that silently kill your chances — and how to fix them:
❌ Mistake #1: Using Fancy Templates with Columns or Graphics
Many free templates you find online look great — but they confuse ATS scanners. Columns, icons, or graphic elements can cause the software to misread or skip critical info like your job titles or skills.
✅ Fix: Stick to clean formatting with clear section headers and a single-column layout.
❌ Mistake #2: Not Including Keywords
ATS software scans your resume for keywords pulled directly from the job description. If your resume doesn’t include enough of them — or uses vague substitutes — it gets flagged as irrelevant.
✅ Fix: Analyze the job post, identify key terms, and naturally weave them into your resume.
❌ Mistake #3: Saving as the Wrong File Type
Believe it or not, saving your resume as a PDF can sometimes break ATS parsing, especially if it includes graphics or text boxes.
✅ Fix: Save as a .docx file or test your resume using an online ATS scanner.
❌ Mistake #4: Stuffing Buzzwords
Some candidates try to cheat the system by dumping buzzwords at the bottom of their resume. This might trick older ATS software, but newer systems penalize this — and recruiters can spot it instantly.
✅ Fix: Focus on relevance and context. Every keyword should be supported by results.
❌ Mistake #5: Ignoring Resume Hierarchy
ATS software and recruiters both look for clear formatting — think job titles, dates, responsibilities, and results in a consistent order. If your resume structure is disorganized, it fails to communicate value fast.
✅ Fix: Use a consistent structure with bolded headers, clear spacing, and bullet points that emphasize impact.
How We Help:
At HireReady, every resume we deliver is:
ATS-optimized using real job data
Cleanly formatted to parse in 90%+ of modern systems
Human-reviewed to ensure it passes both the filter and the recruiter test