Quick Answer
Most ATS rejections come from missing exact keywords, using complex formatting, and skipping measurable outcomes. Keep your resume single-column, mirror the job post language, quantify every bullet, and run an ATS scan with The CV Tailor before you apply to catch issues in minutes.
Proof Point
98% of Fortune 500 companies rely on ATS filters, according to the Jobscan ATS Research Report. That means your resume is graded by software before a recruiter sees it.
Why ATS-Ready Resumes Matter in 2025
Over 98% of enterprise companies and the majority of mid-sized teams now use ATS platforms to filter applicants. These systems scan for relevant keywords, parse your formatting, score your match, and decide whether a recruiter ever reads your resume.
The good news? Most ATS roadblocks are predictable. Fixing a handful of formatting and keyword issues drastically improves your odds. Here are the seven traps that consistently send resumes to the rejection pile—and the fixes that keep yours in contention.
Mistake #1: Fancy Formatting the ATS Can’t Read
Columns, text boxes, icons, and graphics look great to humans but confuse ATS parsers. When the system can’t read your layout, it returns a blank resume to the recruiter.
✓ Fix:
Stick to a single-column layout with standard section headings like “Work Experience” and “Education.” Use bold text for emphasis instead of shapes or graphics. Export as DOCX or PDF that preserves text formatting, not images of text.
Mistake #2: Missing Must-Have Keywords
ATS systems score your resume against required skills and responsibilities. If you never mention the exact terminology from the job description, you get a low match score—even if you have the experience.
✓ Fix:
Scan the job description for frequently repeated skills, tools, and responsibilities. Mirror that language in your summary, skills list, and relevant experience bullets. Keep phrasing natural—keyword stuffing is easy to spot.
Mistake #3: Using Uncommon Job Titles
Creative titles like “Chief Happiness Officer” or “Data Ninja” don’t map to ATS taxonomies. The system can’t match them to the recruiter’s search terms.
✓ Fix:
Translate unconventional titles to standard equivalents in parentheses. For example: “Customer Success Lead (Account Manager).” This keeps your internal title while helping the ATS understand your role.
Mistake #4: Submitting the Wrong File Type
Some ATS platforms mangle PDFs with heavy design elements or reject files exported from Canva as images.
✓ Fix:
When in doubt, upload a clean DOCX. If you must submit a PDF, export from Word or Google Docs, not design software. Always preview the parsed version if the ATS offers it.
Mistake #5: Leaving Out Measurable Impact
ATS scoring models increasingly look for evidence of outcomes—not just duties. Bullets that read like job descriptions won’t stand out.
✓ Fix:
Rewrite bullets to include metrics, scope, or tangible results. “Increased qualified leads by 32% in Q3” beats “Responsible for lead generation.” Numbers also help human recruiters evaluate you quickly.
Mistake #6: Ignoring Employment Gaps and Dates
Missing or inconsistent dates confuse parsers and trigger red flags. Some systems filter out resumes with unexplained gaps longer than six months.
✓ Fix:
Include month and year for each role. If you took a break, add a short entry such as “Career Sabbatical — 2023” with a one-line explanation (“Completed UX bootcamp and freelance projects”). Transparency beats silence.
Mistake #7: Forgetting Basic Contact Details
ATS platforms need your email, phone number, and location to log your profile. Resumes that hide this info in headers or graphics sometimes fail to parse.
✓ Fix:
Place your contact details in the main body near the top. Include city and state (or country for remote roles), a professional email, and a phone number. Add a LinkedIn URL if it reinforces your credibility.
Quick ATS Readiness Checklist
- • Single-column layout with standard headings
- • Keywords from the job description woven into relevant sections
- • Impact-focused bullets with metrics or outcomes
- • Clean DOCX or ATS-safe PDF export
- • Complete dates and contact information in plain text
Want a guided audit? Walk through the full process in our ATS resume checker companion guide.
Need a Faster Way?
Upload your resume and the job description to The CV Tailor. Our AI flags missing keywords, rewrites bullets with metrics, and exports ATS-safe drafts—so you only fine-tune the final touches.
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Still getting silence? Run an audit with the ATS resume checker and compare AI vs manual workflows in our data-backed breakdown.
About the author
The CV Tailor editorial team partners with in-house recruiters, career coaches, and hiring managers to pressure-test every ATS recommendation. The insights here come from real parsing data and resume reviews across SaaS, product, and operations roles.