How to Tailor Your Resume for ATS in 2026
What is an ATS and why does it matter?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that companies use to receive, sort, and filter job applications before a human recruiter ever sees them. According to Jobscan, over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS — and many smaller companies do too.
The ATS stores your resume and lets recruiters search and rank the pile by keyword, skill and formatting. If your resume does not use the language a recruiter is searching for, it ranks low however qualified you actually are.
The biggest ATS mistakes job seekers make
1. Using tables, columns, or fancy formatting
ATS software reads text linearly. Multi-column layouts, tables, and text boxes often get scrambled or ignored entirely. Stick to a single-column layout with clear section headers.
2. Not matching keywords from the job description
This is the most common mistake. If a job description says "cross-functional collaboration" and your resume says "worked with different teams," the ATS may not make the connection. Mirror the exact language from the job posting.
3. Using graphics, icons, or images
ATS systems can't read images. Any information inside a graphic — including contact details, skill bars, or logos — will be invisible to the system.
4. Including headers and footers in Word documents
Some older ATS systems can't parse content inside Word headers/footers. Keep all contact information in the main body of your document.
How to tailor your resume properly
Here's a simple, repeatable process for every job application:
Step 1: Copy the job description
Open the job posting and copy the full description. Pay particular attention to the "requirements" and "responsibilities" sections — these contain the keywords the ATS is scanning for.
Step 2: Identify the core skills and phrases
Look for repeated terms, specific tools or technologies, and action verbs. Make a list of the 10–15 most important keywords.
Step 3: Audit your current resume against the list
Go through your resume and check which keywords appear naturally. For gaps, think about whether you have relevant experience that simply uses different language.
Step 4: Rewrite bullet points to match
Don't copy-paste keywords randomly — rewrite your experience bullets to naturally incorporate the relevant language. The goal is to be accurate while mirroring the vocabulary of the job description.
Step 5: Check your Knight Score
Tools like Knighted Resume's KI Feedback feature can analyse your tailored resume against the job description and give you a Knight Score, highlighting gaps you may have missed.
What a good ATS-optimised resume looks like
- File format: PDF or .docx — both work well. Avoid .pages or Google Docs links.
- Font: Standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Georgia. Avoid decorative fonts.
- Sections: Use standard headings: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.
- Dates: Use consistent date formats (e.g. Jan 2023 – Mar 2025 or 01/2023 – 03/2025).
- Length: 1–2 pages for most candidates. 3 pages only for senior roles with extensive publications or patents.
A note on "keyword stuffing"
It's tempting to hide dozens of keywords at the bottom of your resume in white text. Don't. Modern ATS systems are sophisticated enough to flag this, and if your resume does get to a human, they'll see it immediately. Only include skills you actually have.
The bottom line
Tailoring your resume for ATS isn't about gaming the system — it's about communicating clearly in the language that the job posting uses. Do it properly, and you're not just passing the ATS filter; you're also making it much easier for the human recruiter reading your resume to quickly see that you're a strong fit.
The good news: once you build the habit, a proper tailoring pass takes about 15–20 minutes per application. With AI tools like Knighted Intelligence, it is one paste.