ATS Resume Checklist: Pass ATS Screening Every Time (2026)

Most resumes don't fail because candidates lack experience.

They fail because of avoidable ATS mistakes.

Wrong file formats.

Missing keywords.

Broken formatting.

Weak achievement statements.

The frustrating part?

Most candidates never know why they were rejected.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by most employers to organize, search, and rank applicants before a recruiter reviews resumes.

If your resume isn't ATS-friendly, you may never get seen by a human.

This guide provides a practical ATS resume checklist you can use before every application.

What ATS Systems Actually Evaluate

Most ATS platforms evaluate resumes across four areas:

1. Formatting – Can the system read your resume?
2. Keywords – Does your resume match the job description?
3. Content Quality – Does your experience look relevant?
4. Impact Metrics – Have you demonstrated measurable results?

If you optimize these four areas, you'll dramatically improve your chances of passing ATS screening.

ATS Resume Checklist

Formatting Checklist

Formatting is the foundation.

If the ATS can't parse your resume correctly, everything else becomes irrelevant.

Resume Formatting

☐ Save as a clean, text-based PDF

☐ Use a single-column layout

☐ Avoid sidebars and multi-column templates

☐ Remove tables and text boxes

☐ Remove images, icons, and logos

☐ Remove skill bars and rating graphics

☐ Place contact information in the document body

☐ Use standard section names:

• Experience
• Education
• Skills
• Projects
• Certifications
• Summary

☐ Use consistent date formatting

Example:

Jan 2023 – Mar 2026

or

January 2023 – Present

☐ Use ATS-friendly fonts:

• Calibri
• Arial
• Helvetica
• Garamond

☐ Font size between 10–12pt

ATS Parse Test

Before submitting:

1. Open your PDF.
2. Select all text.
3. Copy and paste into a plain text editor.

If the content appears in the correct order, your formatting is likely ATS-friendly.

Keyword Checklist

Keywords determine how closely your resume matches the job description.

Many ATS systems compare resumes directly against employer requirements.

ATS Keyword Optimization

☐ Every required skill appears exactly as written in the job description

☐ Include both full names and abbreviations

Example:

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

☐ Skills section contains specific tools

Good:

React
PostgreSQL
Terraform

Bad:

Programming
Cloud Computing
Databases

☐ Skills grouped by category

Example:

Languages
Frameworks
Cloud
Databases
Tools

☐ Important keywords also appear inside experience bullets

☐ No keyword stuffing

Only list skills you genuinely possess.

Content Quality Checklist

Passing ATS isn't enough.

Recruiters still need to like your resume.

Resume Content Review

☐ Every bullet begins with a strong action verb

Examples:

• Built
• Designed
• Implemented
• Migrated
• Led
• Reduced
• Optimized

☐ Bullets describe achievements rather than responsibilities

Weak Example

Responsible for maintaining APIs.

Strong Example

Built API services handling 2 million requests daily, reducing latency by 60%.

☐ 3–5 bullets per role

☐ Most relevant achievements listed first

☐ No first-person language

Avoid:

• I
• Me
• My

☐ Summary instead of objective statement

☐ No spelling or grammar errors

☐ Irrelevant experience removed or minimized

Impact Metrics Checklist

Numbers are one of the strongest credibility signals on a resume.

Recruiters trust evidence.

Metrics provide evidence.

Impact Metrics Review

☐ Every major bullet contains a measurable result

☐ Metrics are specific

Weak:

Improved performance

Strong:

Reduced page load time by 60%

☐ Scope is clearly defined

Examples:

• User count
• Revenue
• Team size
• System scale

☐ Business outcomes included where possible

Examples:

• Revenue generated
• Costs reduced
• Time saved
• Conversion improvement

☐ Avoid vague words

Examples:

• Significantly
• Substantially
• Considerably

Use actual numbers instead.

Why These Four Categories Matter

Formatting Gets You Read

Formatting is the first gate.

If ATS software can't parse your resume correctly, recruiters may never see it.

Common formatting mistakes silently destroy applications.

Keywords Get You Ranked

ATS systems often compare resumes against job descriptions.

The closer your match, the higher your ranking.

This is why tailoring matters.

Content Quality Gets Interviews

Recruiters spend only a few seconds reviewing resumes.

Clear achievements help them quickly understand your value.

Impact Metrics Build Credibility

Anyone can claim:

Improved system performance.

Far fewer candidates can say:

Reduced API latency from 800ms to 120ms across three microservices.

Specificity wins.

5 ATS Myths That Refuse to Die

Myth #1: Hide Keywords in White Text

This used to work years ago.

Modern ATS systems can detect hidden text.

Some recruiters view it as manipulation.

Never do this.

Myth #2: ATS Automatically Rejects Below a Certain Score

Most ATS systems rank candidates.

Low-ranked resumes often get buried rather than formally rejected.

The result is similar:

Nobody sees them.

Myth #3: PDFs Don't Work

Modern ATS platforms parse PDFs perfectly well.

The real issue is image-based PDFs or heavily designed templates.

Text-based PDFs are usually the safest option.

Myth #4: Design Is More Important Than Content

A beautiful resume with weak content still performs poorly.

Strong achievements matter more than visual effects.

Myth #5: One Resume Works Everywhere

Different jobs prioritize different keywords.

Tailoring your resume significantly improves match rates.

How to Use This Checklist

A simple workflow:

Step 1

Create a master resume containing all experience.

Step 2

Copy it for each application.

Step 3

Tailor keywords and achievements.

Step 4

Run through this checklist.

Step 5

Submit.

The formatting section only needs occasional review.

The keyword section should be reviewed for every application.

ATS Resume Quick Audit

Before clicking submit:

Formatting

☐ ATS-friendly PDF

☐ Single-column layout

☐ No graphics

Keywords

☐ Skills match job description

☐ Relevant keywords included

Content

☐ Achievement-focused bullets

☐ No generic responsibilities

Metrics

☐ Numbers included

☐ Results quantified

If all four areas pass, your resume is likely stronger than the majority of applications recruiters receive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ATS score is considered good?

Most candidates should aim for 80% or higher when matching a job description.

Can ATS read PDFs?

Yes, provided they are text-based PDFs.

Do ATS systems care about resume design?

Not much. ATS systems care far more about structure, keywords, and content.

How often should I tailor my resume?

For every application.

What is the biggest ATS mistake?

Missing keywords that appear in the job description.

Final Thoughts

Most ATS failures aren't caused by lack of qualifications.

They're caused by preventable mistakes.

Wrong formatting.

Missing keywords.

Weak bullet points.

Lack of measurable results.

The good news is that all of these problems can be fixed.

Before sending any application, run through this checklist.

Five minutes of review can save weeks of missed opportunities.

Free ATS Resume Review

Want to check your ATS score before applying?

Try the free WriteCV AI Resume Review:

You'll get:

• ATS compatibility analysis
• Keyword match score
• Missing keyword suggestions
• Resume structure feedback
• Bullet point improvement recommendations

Small improvements can dramatically increase your chances of landing interviews.