Applicant tracking systems store applications and let recruiters search them. Most do not auto-reject candidates. What they do is parse your document into fields, and anything they cannot parse effectively disappears.
Parsing fails on graphics, tables, columns, text inside images, and unconventional section headings. Use standard headings: Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.
Keyword matching is a ranking signal, not a gate. Mirror the language of the job description where it is truthful, especially tool names, certifications, and role titles.
Test before you send. Save your resume as plain text and read it. If the order collapses or content disappears, the ATS is seeing the same mess.
The TiamiyuCareer editorial team
Recruiters, hiring managers, and professional writers who spend every day inside the hiring process — and write everything we publish from that experience.