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ATS Resume Mistakes: 12 Errors That Get You Rejected (Plus a Free ATS Resume Template)

ATS Resume Mistakes: 12 Errors That Get You Rejected (Plus a Free ATS Resume Template)

You apply to job after job and hear nothing back. It's easy to think you're not qualified enough. But a lot of the time, the problem is simpler than that, your resume never reached a real person.

Most companies run applications through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a recruiter looks at them. In a Jobscan survey of 384 recruiters, 99.7% said they use an ATS to filter candidates. If the software can't read your resume, it can drop your details, mix up your job history, or rank you low, even when you're a great fit.

The good news? Most ATS resume mistakes are easy to fix once you know what to look for. Below are the 12 most common ones, how to check your own resume, and a free ATS resume template you can use to update your current resume. 

What is an ATS and how does it read your resume?

An applicant tracking system is software that collects, sorts and ranks job applications. When you upload your resume, the ATS usually does three things:

  1. Pulls out the text. It strips away the design and keeps only the words.
  2. Sorts the text into sections. It tries to figure out which parts are your work experience, education, skills and contact info.
  3. Looks for keywords. It checks if your resume uses the same words as the job post. 

When hiring managers search their list of applicants, resumes that were read clearly and include the right keywords show up first. 

The key thing to remember: an ATS doesn't "see" your resume the way a person does. It reads plain text, top to bottom. Anything that gets in the way of that, like columns, graphics or text boxes, can scramble your information or make it disappear.

1. Using tables and multiple columns

Two-column resumes look clean and modern, which is why so many templates use them. The problem is that many ATS tools read straight across the page, line by line. That means your left column and right column can get mashed together, so your job titles end up next to the wrong dates or your skills get split into nonsense.

Tables cause the same issue, even "invisible" tables used just to line things up. 

How to fix it: Use a single-column layout. Put your sections in a simple order: contact info, summary, skills, work experience, education. Use spacing and bold text to make things easy to scan instead of columns.

2. Putting important info in headers, footers or text boxes

It's common to put your name, phone number and email in the header of a Word or Google Doc. The problem is that a lot of ATS software skips headers, footers and text boxes completely, so that info might never get read.

How to fix it: Skip those features and type everything into the main body of the page. To check, press Ctrl+A (or Cmd+A on a Mac) to select all. If some of your text doesn't highlight with the rest, the ATS probably won't read it either.

3. Using fancy fonts and icons

Script fonts, custom fonts and little icons (a phone symbol, an envelope, a location pin, a LinkedIn icon) can turn into random characters or blank spaces when the ATS pulls out your text. Your name might show up as a jumble, or your phone number might vanish.

How to fix it:

  • Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Garamond, Helvetica or Verdana.
  • Use 10.5 to 12 point font for your body text, 12 to 14 point for section headings (like "Experience" and "Education"), and 16 to 20 point for your name at the top.
  • Skip the icons. Just type your phone number, email and LinkedIn URL as plain text. People (and the ATS) can tell what they are without a symbol or label.
  • Use simple bullet points (• or ■), not arrows or custom shapes.

4. Adding graphics, photos and skill bars

Logos, headshots, charts and those "skill level" bars (like Excel shown as 80% full) can't be read by an ATS. If your skills only live inside a graphic, the software has no idea you have them.

How to fix it: Cut the visuals and write it out in plain text. If you want to show your level, say it in words, like "Excel (Advanced)" or "Spanish (Fluent)."

5. Using creative section headings

Headings like "My Journey," "Where I've Been" or "My Toolkit" might show off your personality, but the ATS is looking for standard labels so it knows where to file your information. When it can't find them, your work history might end up under education, or your summary might disappear.

How to fix it: Use the headings every ATS expects:

  • Summary or Professional Summary
  • Work Experience or Professional Experience
  • Education
  • Skills
  • Certifications

6. Mixing up your date formats

Recruiters often filter candidates by years of experience. If your dates are messy, the ATS may not be able to work out how long you've been in each role. Common problems include using apostrophes (Jan '21), leaving out months (2021 to 2023), or switching between formats on the same page.

How to fix it: Pick one format and use it everywhere. Good options:

  • Jan 2021 – Mar 2023
  • January 2021 – March 2023
  • 01/2021 – 03/2023

For your current job, write "Present" as the end date (for example, "June 2023 – Present"). Avoid other words like "Current" or "Now."

7. Leaving out keywords from the job description

This is one of the biggest ATS resume mistakes. Hiring managers search the ATS for specific skills, tools and job titles. If those words aren't on your resume, you won't show up in their search, even if you have the experience.

How to fix it:

  • Read the job post and note the skills, tools and phrases that come up more than once.
  • Use those exact words where they're true for you. If the post says "project management," don't just write "managed projects."
  • Include both the short and long versions of terms, like "SEO (search engine optimization)."
  • Use a common job title people would search for. If your title was something unusual like "Customer Happiness Hero," add the standard version too: "Customer Happiness Hero (Customer Service Representative)."

Tailoring your resume for every job is ideal, but it isn't always realistic. If you know the kind of role you want, look at a few job posts for it and note the keywords that keep showing up. Then make sure your main resume includes the ones that match your experience.

8. Keyword stuffing

The opposite problem is cramming in every keyword you can find. A long, comma-filled line of 30 skills can get read as one big jumble. And once a recruiter does see your resume, a pile of buzzwords with nothing to back them up doesn't look good.

How to fix it: Keep your skills section focused on the 8 to 12 skills that fit the job best. Then work those same keywords into your experience bullets, so they show up in context and prove you've used them.

9. Saving in the wrong file type

Even a well-formatted resume can fail if the file itself is hard to read. Resumes made in design tools are sometimes saved as images inside a PDF. The ATS sees a picture, not text. Password-protected files can also get blocked.

How to fix it:

  • Always follow the job post's instructions if it asks for a certain file type.
  • If it doesn't say, a .docx file or a text-based PDF is your safest bet.
  • Check your PDF by trying to highlight and copy the text. If you can't, it's an image and the ATS can't read it.
  • Never password-protect your resume.

10. Writing long paragraphs instead of bullet points

Big blocks of text are hard for both the ATS and recruiters. Recruiters often skim a resume in just a few seconds, so dense paragraphs can bury your best work.

How to fix it: Use 3 to 6 bullet points per job. Keep each one to a line or two. Start with an action verb like led, built, created, cut or improved.

11. Listing duties instead of results

"Responsible for customer service" tells a recruiter what the job was, not how well you did it. Anyone can copy a job description. Recruiters want to know what you got done.

How to fix it: Show results, and add numbers when you can. For example:

  • Before: Responsible for answering customer emails.
  • After: Answered 50+ customer emails a day and kept a 95% satisfaction rating.

12. Typos and spelling mistakes

A typo can hurt you twice. A misspelled keyword (like "Quickbook" instead of "QuickBooks") might not match what the recruiter searched for. And when a person does read your resume, mistakes can make you look careless.

How to fix it: Run a spell check, read your resume out loud, and ask a friend to look it over. Printing it out can help you spot mistakes you missed on screen.

How to check if your resume is ATS friendly

You don't need special software to catch most problems. Try these quick tests before you apply:

  • The plain text test. Copy everything in your resume and paste it into Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac). If the text comes out jumbled, out of order or full of odd symbols, an ATS will likely see the same mess.
  • The select-all test. Press Ctrl+A or Cmd+A in your document. Any text that doesn't highlight is probably in a header, footer or text box.
  • The auto-fill test. When you apply on a job site, it often fills in the application form for you after you upload your resume. Check what it filled in. If your name, job titles or dates are missing or in the wrong spots, the ATS had trouble reading your resume.
  • An ATS resume checker. Free and paid resume scanners can compare your resume to a job description and point out formatting issues and missing keywords.

If your resume fails these tests, don't try to patch it. It's usually faster to paste your content into a clean, simple template and start fresh.

Download our free ATS resume template 

Want to skip the guesswork? We made a free ATS resume template that avoids every mistake on this list. It's built to be easy for applicant tracking systems to read and easy for recruiters to skim.

What's included:

  • A single-column layout with no tables, text boxes or graphics
  • Contact info in the main body, not the header
  • Standard section headings the ATS recognizes
  • Simple, ATS-safe fonts and bullet points
  • A consistent date format already set up
  • Example bullet points to show you how to write results, not duties

—-------> Get the free ATS resume template Google Docs)

How to save your copy:

The template opens in Google Docs as a view-only file, so you'll need to save your own copy first. You can keep it in Google Docs or download it as a Word file.

To save it as a Google Doc:

  1. Click the link above to open the template.
  2. Go to File > Make a copy.
  3. Give your copy a name and click Make a copy. It will save to your Google Drive.
  4. Replace the sample text with your own details.
  5. Add keywords from the job you're applying to.

To save it as a Word document:

  1. Click the link above to open the template.
  2. Go to File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx).
  3. Open the file in Word and replace the sample text with your own details.
  4. Add keywords from the job you're applying to.

When you're ready to apply: Check what file type the job post asks for. If it doesn't say, download your resume as a .docx or PDF (File > Download > PDF Document in Google Docs, or File > Save As > PDF in Word).

Quick ATS resume checklist

Before you hit submit, run through this list:

  • Single-column layout, no tables or text boxes
  • Name and contact info in the main body
  • Standard font, no icons or graphics
  • Standard section headings
  • One consistent date format
  • Keywords from the job description, used naturally
  • Bullet points that show results
  • Saved as a .docx or text-based PDF
  • Spell checked and proofread

FAQs about ATS resume mistakes

Can an ATS read a PDF resume?

Yes, most can, as long as it's a text-based PDF. Problems happen when the PDF is really an image or uses complex design. If you can highlight and copy the text, you're usually fine. If the job post asks for a Word file, send a .docx.

Do two-column resumes work with ATS?

Some newer systems handle them better than older ones, but there's no way to know which ATS a company uses. A single-column resume is the safer choice every time.

How many keywords should I put on my resume?

There's no magic number. Focus on the skills and tools that show up most in the job description, and only use the ones that are true for you. Aim to use them in both your skills section and your work experience.

Is a creative resume ever a good idea?

If you're handing your resume directly to a person, like at a networking event, a designed resume can work. For online applications, stick with a simple ATS resume format and save the creative work for your portfolio.

What’s Next?  

An ATS isn't out to get you. It just needs your resume to be simple, clear and easy to read. Fix these common ATS resume mistakes, tailor your keywords to each job, and use a clean ATS resume template, and you'll give yourself a much better shot at getting your resume in front of a real person.

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