What is an ATS Score? (Real Tips for Job Seekers)
What’s an ATS score? Find out what it is, how it works, and how to tweak your resume to stand out to employers – without getting caught up in common myths.
Ever applied for a job online and felt like your resume just vanished? Like it went into a black hole, never to be seen again? This happened to all of us!
Many job seekers feel this way, and often wonder if a mysterious "ATS score" is to blame for their application's silence. You might have even seen posts on social media – LinkedIn, maybe – boasting things like, "This resume has an ATS score of over 92!" or something similar, all designed to grab your attention and maybe even sell you a service. It all sounds pretty important, right?
But what is an ATS score, really? And is it as crucial as those posts make it seem?
Before I get to the score part, let's talk about the "ATS" itself. ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It's basically software that companies use to manage the huge number of job applications they receive. Think of it as a digital assistant for recruiters, helping them sort through resumes and find potential candidates.
What Is an ATS Score, Anyway?
Simply put, an ATS score claims to be a "match rating" between your resume and a specific job description / ATS. The higher the score, the better your resume supposedly aligns with the keywords, skills, and qualifications the employer is looking for. These scores typically range from 1 to 100.
Important:
It's crucial to understand that this "score" is often a relative, and frankly, sometimes a made-up metric, especially if it's coming from a third-party resume scanning tool. Why? Because there are over 200 different ATS systems used by companies worldwide! Each one can be configured differently, with unique settings and priorities.
Think of it like this: Imagine 200 different dating apps, each with its own algorithm for matching people. A "perfect match" on one app might be a terrible match on another. The same principle applies to ATS systems.
A score generated by an online tool cannot perfectly replicate the specific settings of the ATS used by the company you're applying to. These tools make educated guesses, but they're not inside the company's system.
Any specific number you see should be taken with a large grain of salt. It's more of a general guideline than a definitive measure of your success.
These are some criteria that many tools on the market try to determine the score:
Scoring Criteria: This is where the "matching" happens. It scans your resume for several things:
Keyword Relevance: It looks for specific words and phrases related to the job requirements. This includes job titles, skills, qualifications, and industry jargon. But, it's not just about the number of keywords; it's about how relevant they are and how you use them.
Formatting: A clean, simple layout is much easier for an ATS to "read" than a complex design with lots of graphics or unusual fonts.
Content Quality: The ATS is also looking for clear, concise information that's easy to understand.
Passing Score: Many sources say a score of 80% or higher is generally considered "good" and likely to move your resume forward. But again, this varies wildly between companies and even between different jobs at the same company. Some companies might set a higher threshold, while others might manually review all applications, regardless of the score.
Customization: This is the key takeaway! To increase your chances of getting past the ATS, you must tailor your resume to each specific job you apply for. This means carefully reading the job description and incorporating the most relevant keywords and phrases naturally into your resume.
Here’s a funny example of how “important” the ATS score really is: two posts sharing the same resume template, but one claims an ATS score of 92 and the other says it’s 98.
Those scores are complete nonsense. The people sharing them aren’t actually trying to help you; they’re just looking to grow their network and get likes, not provide real value.
The “score” changes based on what you write, not the template. In systems that show your ATS score, it’s tied to the content you include and how those systems are configured.
For example, if you score 80 in one app and upload the same resume to two other apps, your score might drop to 50 or jump to 91, since each system is set up differently.
How Do ATS Systems "Read" Your Resume?
When I say "ATS Read," I’m talking about ATS parsing—let me break it down for you.
You Upload: You send in your resume (usually a Word document or PDF).
The Robot Reads (Sort Of): The ATS doesn't read your resume like a person. It looks for specific words and phrases, like "customer service," "Microsoft Excel," or "project management." It also looks at the structure of your resume, using section headers like "Experience" and "Education". This is what parsing is.
The Robot Organizes: The ATS takes those important words and phrases and puts them into categories, like a digital filing cabinet. It might put "University of Example" under "Education" and "Cashier" under "Work Experience."
The Robot Helps the Company: The company can then search the ATS for candidates who have the skills and experience they need. For example, they might search for everyone who knows "Python" (a computer programming language).
One of the biggest misconceptions is that ATS systems automatically block your resume. In reality, most rejections happen because of knockout questions. Plus, recruiters still review your resume! The key to getting through is making sure you're a good fit for the role, and the ATS score has zero effect on that.
Here's a breakdown of the key things it focuses on:
Keywords are King (But relevance is Queen): We've mentioned keywords a few times, and for good reason. They are the foundation of how an ATS and Humans understand your resume. But it's not just about stuffing your resume with as many keywords as possible. It's about using the right keywords, in the right context.
Example: If a job description asks for "project management experience," don't just write "management" repeatedly. Instead, describe your specific project management experience, using phrases like "managed cross-functional teams," "delivered projects on time and under budget," or "utilized Agile methodologies."
Synonyms and variations: Use variations of keywords. For example, if the job description mentions "communication skills," also use phrases like "written communication," "verbal presentation," and "interpersonal skills" where appropriate.
Hard skills vs soft skills: Be sure to use both.
Formatting: Keep it simple and clean: This is where many well-qualified candidates trip up. An overly designed resume might look great to a human, but it can be a nightmare for an ATS (and for some humans too).
Simple is best: Use a clear, chronological format. Bullet points are your friend! Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
Avoid the fancy stuff: Skip the graphics, images, tables, text boxes, and unusual layouts. These can confuse the ATS and make it difficult to extract the important information. Headers and footers are often ignored.
File types: Stick to .docx (Microsoft Word) or .pdf files. Some older ATS systems might have trouble with other formats. Always check the job application instructions; they'll usually specify the preferred file type.
Content quality: Clear, concise, and action-oriented: The goal is information that's easy to understand and demonstrates your skills and accomplishments.
Action verbs: Start your bullet points with strong action verbs that describe what you did. Examples: "Managed," "Developed," "Led," "Implemented," "Achieved," "Improved."
Quantifiable results: Whenever possible, use numbers to show the impact of your work. Examples: "Increased sales by 15%," "Reduced costs by $10,000," "Managed a team of 5 people."
Proofread, proofread, proofread: Typos and grammatical errors are a red flag, both to the ATS and to human recruiters. A single mistake can make your resume look careless. Use a spell checker and grammar checker, and ideally, have someone else proofread it for you. Why is this a problem for ATS? If you have "Workday" on your resume but there's a typo like "Wrkday," a recruiter searching for "Workday" won’t find your resume. The same issue happens when the ATS tries to show which candidates in its database might be a good fit for a new role. It will not be able to find your resume because of this typo.
Are you afraid of being replaced by AI? Do not be; learn how to talk to AI. Get “How to Talk to AI” today and start building the skills you need to thrive in the future. The future isn’t about AI replacing humans; it’s about humans working with AI to achieve more. Be part of that future!
The ATS Score Problem: Separating Fact from Fiction
Let's address the elephant in the room: the often misleading nature of "ATS scores," especially those generated by online resume scanning tools.
While these tools can be helpful for identifying potential issues, they often create more confusion and anxiety than necessary.
Here's why:
ATS Customization Variability: As I mentioned earlier, there are hundreds of different ATS systems in use, and each company can configure its system differently. This means that the same resume might score very high on one company's ATS and very low on another's, even if both systems are technically looking for similar skills. Online resume scanners simply cannot know the specific settings of every company's ATS. They make educated guesses based on general best practices, but they're not a perfect representation of reality.
The Human Element: It's crucial to remember that an ATS score is not the final deciding factor in whether you get an interview. The ATS is often seen as a first filter because people believe they are rejected by it. A human recruiter always has the final say. Recruiters often review resumes manually, even if they didn't score perfectly on the ATS. They might be looking for specific experiences or skills that the ATS didn't fully capture. They might also be willing to overlook a slightly lower score if a candidate has other compelling qualifications.
Keyword Stuffing: Avoid cramming your resume with as many keywords as possible to boost your ATS score. One of the biggest misconceptions is that you need to do this. This is simply not true, and it can actually hurt your chances. An ATS is looking for relevant keywords used naturally within the context of your experience. Keyword stuffing makes your resume look unnatural and spammy, both to the ATS and to a human reader. Quality and context are far more important than sheer quantity.
Misleading Confidence (or Despair): Online ATS score checkers can give job seekers a false sense of security or, conversely, unnecessary discouragement. A high ATS score on an external tool doesn't guarantee you'll get an interview, and a low score doesn't necessarily mean you'll be rejected. These tools can be a helpful starting point, but they should never be the sole basis for your resume strategy. It's better to create a resume for a specific job using the job description, instead.
In short, while the idea of an ATS score is based on a real process, the specific numbers generated by many online tools are often unreliable and should be interpreted with caution.
Looking for a simple, ATS-friendly resume template? Check out these five free resume template options!
ATS Score - Your Resume is More Than a Number
It's easy to get caught up in trying to "beat the system" or achieve a perfect score. But remember this: your resume is more than just a number. It's a representation of your unique skills, experiences, and accomplishments. It's a story about your career journey and your potential to contribute to a company's success.
While understanding how ATS systems work is important, don't let the fear of a low score paralyze you. Focus on creating a high-quality, targeted resume that clearly showcases your value to a potential employer. Tailor your resume to each job, highlight your achievements, and proofread meticulously.
And don't forget the power of networking!
How to Improve Your Real Chances (Beyond the Score)
Instead of obsessing over a potentially misleading ATS score, focus on the things you can control: