Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are the gatekeepers that determine which resumes make it to your desk and which don’t. Understanding how ATS parses and ranks resumes can give you a considerable edge: you’ll spend less time sifting through improperly formatted applications and more time connecting with truly qualified candidates.

In this post, we’ll explore key elements that make a resume an ATS-friendly resume and how that knowledge can optimize your recruiting workflow. Plus, we’ll highlight how SmartSearch’s all-in-one recruitment platform can help you streamline candidate review and collaborate efficiently with hiring managers.

Why ATS-Friendly Resumes Matter for Staffing Professionals

ATS software automates the early stages of recruitment by scanning resumes for keywords, skills, and formatting. Candidates who don’t tailor their resumes properly often get filtered out before you ever see them. This leads to:

Missed qualified candidates because their resumes don’t “read” correctly to the system
Extra time wasted manually reviewing poorly formatted resumes or chasing down clarifications
Lower quality candidate pipelines that can hurt your time-to-fill and client satisfaction

Knowing what makes an ATS-friendly resume allows you to guide candidates better or adjust your sourcing strategies. It also helps you manage expectations internally and educate hiring managers on how resumes interact with ATS tools, such as SmartSearch.

Key Features of ATS-Friendly Resumes

Simple, Standard Formatting: Avoid graphics, tables, text boxes, and unusual fonts that ATS can’t parse.
Use standard section headings like “Work Experience” and “Education.”
Use Relevant Keywords: Tailor resumes with exact keywords from the job description. ATS looks for these matches to score applicants.
Consistent Structure: Use chronological or hybrid formats that ATS systems can easily follow. Avoid headers or footers for important info.
Spell Out Abbreviations: Use both acronyms and spelled-out terms to ensure ATS catches them (e.g., “Certified Public Accountant (CPA)”).
Avoid Headers and Footers for Critical Information: Place important contact information in the main body, not in headers/footers, as some applicant tracking systems may skip these sections.

Understanding these points can help you train candidates or adjust your recruitment messaging, improving the quality of resumes your ATS processes and increasing your placement success.

How SmartSearch Supports ATS Optimization for Staffing Teams

SmartSearch is designed with the realities of ATS technology and recruiter workflows in mind. Here’s how it helps you:

Powerful Parsing Technology: Our ATS parses candidate resumes accurately, even with complex formatting, ensuring you don’t miss out on qualified talent.
Customizable Keyword Matching: Tailor your keyword sets to meet client requirements and automatically improve candidate ranking.
Streamlined Candidate Review: Quickly filter and score candidates based on ATS results, helping you prioritize outreach and reduce manual effort.
Hiring Manager Collaboration Tools: Easily share candidate profiles with clients, providing context on ATS scoring and resume fit to set clear expectations.

By leveraging SmartSearch, you’ll empower your team to spend less time wrestling with messy resumes and more time on strategic recruiting and relationship building.

Why Staffing Pros Should Care About ATS-Friendly Resumes

Your value lies in your ability to efficiently connect the right candidates with the right roles. Understanding what makes an ATS-friendly resume allows you to improve your entire recruiting process.

When candidates submit resumes that the ATS can interpret correctly, your systems work more efficiently, your pipeline quality improves, and your time-to-hire decreases. With SmartSearch, you gain the tools to harness ATS data more effectively, collaborate seamlessly with hiring managers, and focus your efforts where they matter most.

Want to learn more about how SmartSearch can simplify your challenges and help you win more placements? Reach out for a demo and explore our platform features today.