16 ATS-Friendly Resume Templates [Great for 2024]

What Is an ATS-Friendly Resume Template?

An ATS-friendly resume template is designed and tailored to pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) without getting rejected.

ATS are types of software most companies use to scan, sort, and rank job applications before they reach human recruiters or hiring managers. The ATS extracts information from your resume and decides if you have what it takes to pass the initial screening.

Unfortunately, the ATS can only read your resume if it’s structured a certain way. If you used an unusual resume format, included too many graphics, or picked a font the ATS doesn’t support, your resume could get rejected automatically.

So, using an ATS resume template ensures that your resume's content is the only thing standing between you and the hiring manager’s desk. When no formatting issues can get in your way, you’re that much closer to making it to the next stage of the hiring process!

6 Pros of Using an ATS-Friendly Template

Using an ATS-friendly template is your resume’s best chance to land on a hiring manager’s desk and impress them. 

Here are some of the main perks of using an ATS-friendly template:

1. Guaranteed readability. The ATS can easily read and categorize your relevant skills and experiences.
2. More visibility. You’re more likely to pass the ATS screening and make it to the hiring manager.
3. Time-saving. Using a pre-formatted template lets you focus on your resume’s content instead of spending hours tweaking the layout.
4. Visually appealing. ATS-friendly doesn't mean boring - the right template looks as good to a human hiring manager as it does to an ATS.
5. Easy to update. You can quickly adjust your resume for different job applications without reformatting everything each time.
6. Customization options. Adjust your resume’s layout, colors, fonts, and sections to match your style while staying ATS-friendly.

16 ATS-Friendly Resume Templates

Not every resume template you’ll find online is ATS-friendly.

Take your job hunt to the next level by using our free resume builder and choosing one of our trusted ATS-ready resume templates:

#1. Basic Resume Template

This resume template is versatile and you can personalize it to fit different industries. Its basic design allows the resume content to be front and center.

#2. Minimalist Resume Template

The minimalist resume template is ideal for applicants at any career level and across any industry. You can change the two-column layout and colors according to your style.

#3. Traditional Resume Template

This template offers the traditional resume look. It’s a safe choice for any applicant who doesn’t want to get too creative with their resume.

#4. Modern Resume Template

The modern resume template is guaranteed to help you make an impression on the hiring manager. It’s ideal for applications to startups or marketing agencies.

#5. IT Resume Template

This IT resume template will ensure your application breezes past the ATS and grabs the employer’s attention. The stark contrast between the two-column layout guarantees that your tech know-how pops out.

#6. Functional Resume Template

This functional template is ideal for any industry. The structure lets you emphasize your skills, education, or work experience in equal measure.

#7. Professional Resume Template

The professional resume template uses a strategic pop of color to make every entry of your work experience catch the hiring manager’s eye. Whether you’re just starting your career or have decades of experience, it’s the perfect choice.

#8. College Resume Template

For recent graduates or applicants with little to no experience in the field, this is the best template out there. It lets you expand on your education, relevant skills, and supplementary sections while maintaining a sleek design.

#9. Creative Resume Template

The creative resume template sticks out with a bold header guaranteed to make any hiring manager read it. Choose this template if you’re looking to make it in a creative field like graphic design, animation, or content marketing.

#10. Skill-Based Resume Template

If you’re looking to try a new field, opt for the skill-based resume template. The bold colors and emphasis on skills over work experience are sure to assist your career change and make an employer interested.

#11. Hybrid Resume Template

Choose the hybrid resume template if you want the best of both worlds. It lets you combine the reverse-chronological with the skill-based resume format, and the stark contrast between the different sections of your resume is sure to make it memorable.

#12. General Resume Template

The general resume template fits all types of applicants, whether you’ve got decades of work experience or you’re just getting started. The bold header guarantees that the hiring manager will remember your name and it’s a safe choice for industries like sales and business.

#13. Executive Resume Template

For applicants with more experience in their chosen field, the executive resume template could be the right choice. It focuses on work experience and skills and uses minimal color to make your application pop.

#14. Simple Resume Template

This all-time favorite template keeps things simple yet eye-catching with its use of an accent color. The simple resume template is a great way to emphasize your work experience and skills without using too many graphic elements.

#15. Tech Resume Template

The tech resume template is perfect for anyone applying to IT, communications, data science, or engineering. The clean four-piece layout neatly organizes your resume’s crucial sections and shows the hiring manager you’re all about practicality.

#16. Combined Resume Template

If you’re someone who thinks outside the box, then the combined resume template is for you. The layout lets you combine a reverse-chronological approach to your work experience along with a detailed breakdown of your skills and other certifications.

How Does an ATS Work?

The ATS functions as a central database for resumes and other candidate information, streamlining the recruiting process.

The employer writes a job description and uploads it to the ATS. When you submit your application, the ATS scans your resume for keywords related to the job requirements. These can be anywhere, from your resume summary to your skills, work experience, education, or other qualifications.

The ATS analyzes whatever it reads and ranks candidates based on it. The resumes that don’t cut it get rejected and never reach a human hiring manager.

Most companies use ATS because of the sheer volume of applications they receive.

A single job ad can attract hundreds of applicants, which would be pretty overwhelming for hiring managers to review manually.

While this may seem unfair to you as a candidate, ATS have been in use for decades, and they’re not going anywhere. In fact, 95% of professionals report that ATS has improved their company's hiring process, so they’re here to stay.

And the better you understand the ATS, the better you can optimize your resume so you can make it past those pesky robots and into a hiring manager’s hands!

7 Tips to Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly

Here are some resume tips to help you keep your next resume ATS-friendly:

1. Choose a simple format. Avoid complex layouts, tables, or graphics that ATS might struggle to read.
2. Use standard section headings. Clear titles like "Work Experience" and "Education" will help the ATS recognize what it’s looking at.
3. Include relevant keywords. Always incorporate words and phrases from the job description. Just make sure you weave them in naturally so a human can read them in context after the ATS approves your resume.
4. Stick to professional fonts. Opt for easy-to-read but not overused fonts. We recommend something like Lora, Roboto, or Ubuntu.
5. Save it in the right file format. Always submit your resume as PDF, unless the job ad specifies otherwise.
6. Spell out acronyms. It’s a safe bet to include both the full term and its acronym, just to make sure that the ATS picks up on it. E.g., Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
7. Proofread carefully. Typos and misspellings can prevent the ATS from recognizing important keywords in your resume.

Just don’t forget that you’re writing your resume to impress a human hiring manager. Beating the ATS is only the first step to a successful job application!

How to Tailor Your ATS-Friendly Resume to a Job

Having an ATS-friendly template is the first step to a successful job hunt but it’s not the only step you need to take.

After the ATS has successfully scanned your resume, it’s going to search for keywords that match the job requirements, and then it’ll produce a percentage rating. That number determines how well you fit the hiring manager’s criteria – the higher the number, the more likely a human will read your resume. 

So, you need to pay very close attention to the words you use in your resume because they make or break your chances of getting past the initial screening.

This is where tailoring your resume for the ATS comes in.

To get started, you need to identify the relevant keywords by carefully analyzing the job advertisement.

Look for specific skills, qualifications, and phrases that show up multiple times or something you think is emphasized. Pay attention to both technical skills and any soft skills mentioned in the job description.

Where Do I Use Resume Keywords?

Once you find all the relevant keywords, you should include them in your resume.

Here are a few sections where you could do that:

• Resume summary. This brief paragraph at the top of your resume is a great place to include a few keywords that match the job description, especially when it comes to achievements or years of experience. If you’re new to the job market, opt for a resume objective instead and emphasize your skills and education.
• Work experience. This section entails the bulk of your resume, so this is where you want to focus. Try to mirror the language of the job ad when describing your roles and achievements. You should try using action verbs and power words to show initiative. (E.g.', 'spearheaded X’ instead of ‘was responsible for X’)
• Skills section. Always list both hard and soft skills that match the job requirements. Don’t mention any basic computer skills if the ad is only looking for advanced skills - focus on the requirements you match, not on every skill you have.
• Education. We usually recommend keeping this section brief since it’s pretty straightforward as far as the ATS is concerned. Just list your degree type and the name of your major and university. If you’re a recent graduate, you can include relevant coursework, projects, or thesis topics that align with what the employer is looking for.
• Optional sections. If you still have some space left on your resume, sections like personal projects, extracurricular activities, or additional courses can be great places to incorporate more keywords. For example, if you've completed a relevant online course or volunteered in a related field, mention it.

How to Use Resume Keywords Properly

It’s easy to get carried away when you want to include as many keywords in your resume as possible to beat the ATS.

But, as we already mentioned, you need your resume to be coherent - at the end of the day, its job is to impress a human hiring manager. Stuffing it with random keywords so you pass the ATS won’t cut it.

Let’s say you’re applying for a data analyst position. 

These are the requirements from the job posting:

Then, you should mention the following keywords and skills in your resume:

• SQL
• Python
• R
• MS Excel
• Analytical skills
• Technical skills
• Problem-solving

Some other useful keywords would be:

• Data
• Data modeling
• Datasets
• Reports

The more matching keywords you add, the better. 

Now, let’s look at some examples.

See what we mean? Stuffing your resume with random keywords will only get you so far.

But if you go for a compelling narrative that shows the hiring manager that you’re the ideal candidate for the position, you’re all the more likely to land an interview and get your dream job.

FAQs About ATS-Friendly Resume Templates

Are you still wondering something about ATS-friendly resume templates? Check out the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

We’ve taught you all there is to know about ATS-friendly templates and how to tailor yours. 

Let’s revise the main points one last time:

• An ATS-friendly resume template is a template that can be easily read by applicant tracking systems.
• Over 70% of resumes don't make it past the ATS to a hiring manager's desk, so optimizing your resume for this initial screening is crucial.
• Using an online resume builder like Novorésumé gives you plenty of pre-formatted resume template choices, all stylish and recognizable by ATS.
• Use standard section headings like "Work Experience" and "Education" to help the ATS categorize your information correctly.
• Make sure you search the job ad for keywords and phrases you can mention in your resume to tailor it to the specific role you’re applying for.
• While optimizing for ATS is important, always write your resume with human readers in mind too.