How to Beat the ATS in 2025: The Resume Mistakes You're Still Making
Published on April 8, 2025
You’ve rewritten your resume, tailored it for every job, and even included buzzwords from the posting. Still, no response? The problem might not be your experience - it might be your format.
In 2025, over 90% of large employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter candidates long before a human recruiter sees a single resume. These bots aren’t intelligent - they’re picky, literal, and often outdated. If your resume isn’t structured in a way they understand, you’re getting filtered out before the race even begins.
The Resume Mistakes That Get You Rejected Automatically
- Using tables or columns: Many ATS systems can’t parse content that’s placed in side-by-side columns. That pretty-looking layout? It might be invisible to the system.
- Inserting fancy icons or graphics: ATS bots don’t read visuals - they might even break your resume parser. Stick to text-based bullet points and simple formatting.
- Using PDFs with embedded fonts: Some systems still struggle with non-standard PDF formatting. Always test your resume through a parser to be sure.
- Leaving out keywords: If the job description says “JavaScript” and you wrote “JS,” the system might not match them. Exact keyword usage matters more than ever.
It’s not just what you say - it’s how you say it. Even small formatting decisions can sabotage your chances. That’s why tools like RefineResume exist: we format resumes for ATS-readability *and* human appeal.
How to Optimize Your Resume for ATS — Without Looking Boring
The goal isn’t to dumb down your resume. It’s to make sure it survives the scan. Here’s how to do both:
- Use a clean, single-column layout with no text boxes or sidebars.
- Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
- Label each section clearly: "Experience", "Education", "Skills", etc.
- Mirror the exact language from job descriptions where appropriate.
- Test your resume through free ATS simulators before applying.
The good news? You don’t have to guess. RefineResume uses AI to extract the most relevant keywords from job descriptions and restructure your resume to fit - without losing your voice or credibility.
Don’t Just Apply - Stand Out
Beating the ATS is only the first step. Once you pass the filter, you need to immediately hook the recruiter. That’s why we optimize for both bots and humans - so you get through the first stage *and* land interviews faster.
Want to make sure your resume doesn't get ghosted? Give RefineResume a try and see the difference for yourself. Sign up today and get your first AI-tailored resume free.