ATS Resume Builder Checklist: Pass the Filters, Get the Interview

ATS parsing is picky about both structure and language. If your resume looks great to a human but confuses the parser, it may never reach a recruiter. Use this checklist to ensure your resume is machine-readable and persuasive to humans—and see how Careerday’s builder accelerates the process.

Formatting Rules That Matter

• Single column, standard fonts (Inter, Arial, Calibri), 10.5–12pt text, 0.5–1in margins.
• Clear headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.
• No tables, images, icons, text boxes, or critical info in headers/footers.
• Consistent date/location lines; cover gaps with projects, learning, or volunteer work.

Content That Gets Picked

• Mirror the JD’s nouns and verbs naturally; avoid keyword-dumping.
• Quantify wins (impact, scale, reliability, speed, savings).
• Cut filler (‘responsible for’); start with power verbs and move context to the second clause.

Bullet Blueprint

Verb + Task + Metric: ‘Automated monthly reporting in BigQuery + Looker, cutting prep time 6→1 hrs and enabling weekly leadership reviews.’ Maintain tight phrasing and place the number near the front to maximize scannability.

Fast Path with Careerday

Import your resume, paste a JD (or select a job from our 19M+ database), and let the AI Resume Builder propose a role-specific variant in seconds. It highlights missing skills, suggests stronger verbs, and boosts achievement density. Save multiple versions and attach the best match to your application card in the Careerday Tracker.

Copy-Ready Pre-Submit Checklist

• File name matches role (Firstname-Lastname-Role.pdf)
• 2–3 quantified achievements near the top
• Skills clustered and aligned to the JD
• Dates/titles consistent with LinkedIn
• Contact info correct and clickable

What to Do After Submitting

Log the application in your Careerday Tracker, schedule a follow-up, and save notes (referrals, recruiter name, product observations) for later reference. Recycle the tailored variant for similar roles to cut your next application to under a minute.

Careerday’s All-in-One Advantage

Careerday isn’t just a job board—it’s a complete career platform. Our Advanced Search delivers precise matches from 19M+ jobs, while Company Intelligence ensures informed decisions. The AI Resume Builder crafts tailored resumes, and the Application Tracker keeps you organized. Ace interviews with the Mock Interview Coach (Platinum plan). Start free at Careerday.com and experience job hunting that’s faster, clearer, and fairer.