What is ATS and How to Beat It in 2025

In today’s job market, applying for a role often means submitting your resume into a digital void—aka an ATS. If you’ve ever applied online and never heard back, you may have been screened out by software, not a human. The good news? With a few strategic tweaks, you can make your resume ATS-friendly and increase your chances of getting noticed.

In this post, we’ll break down what an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is, how it works in 2025, and how you can optimize your resume to get past it—using smart formatting, targeted keywords, and the right tools like ResumeFormatter.io.

What is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that employers use to manage and sort job applications. When you apply for a job online, your resume is often parsed by an ATS before a recruiter even sees it. These systems rank or filter candidates based on keywords, formatting, and relevance to the job posting.

How ATS Works in 2025

ATS platforms have come a long way. In 2025, many systems use AI and natural language processing to scan resumes, score them, and match them to job descriptions. Still, they rely heavily on structure and keyword recognition. If your resume isn’t formatted correctly or lacks the right terms, it might be rejected—even if you’re highly qualified.

Common ATS Pitfalls

• Complex Formatting: Graphics, tables, columns, and unusual fonts can confuse ATS scanners.
• Missing Keywords: If your resume doesn’t match the language of the job description, it may be ranked poorly.
• Wrong File Type: Some ATS systems can’t parse PDFs properly. Always check the preferred format—usually .docx or text-based PDFs.
• Unlabeled Sections: Using creative section headers like “My Story