Why Your Resume Gets Rejected by ATS (And How to Fix It)

⚠️ The Harsh Reality

75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before a human ever sees them. Most job seekers have no idea why. This guide reveals the exact reasons your resume is getting filtered out—and shows you how to fix them.

What Is an ATS and Why Should You Care?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that companies use to manage job applications. It scans, parses, and ranks resumes before they reach recruiters.

Here's the problem: ATS systems are notoriously picky. A resume that looks perfect to human eyes can be completely unreadable to an ATS—resulting in instant rejection.

💡 Key Insight

Your resume doesn't just need to impress humans—it needs to survive automated parsing first. Let's fix the 12 most common ATS rejection triggers.

12 Reasons ATS Rejects Your Resume

1. Complex Formatting and Graphics

❌ What ATS Hates:

• Text boxes
• Images and logos
• Charts and graphs
• Multiple columns
• Headers and footers with critical info

✅ The Fix:

Use a simple, single-column layout with standard text formatting. Save the creative design for your portfolio.

Good Format:

• Plain text with bold/italic emphasis
• Standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills)
• Bullet points with consistent formatting

2. Missing or Misspelled Keywords

❌ The Problem:

ATS systems scan for specific keywords from the job description. If you're missing them—even due to a typo—you're out.

✅ The Fix:

1. Extract keywords from the job description: Look for required skills, tools, certifications
2. Use exact phrasing: If they say "Project Management," don't write "Managing Projects"
3. Include variations: "JavaScript" AND "JS", "Search Engine Optimization" AND "SEO"
4. Add a Skills section: List all relevant keywords naturally

Pro Tip: Use a tool like SkillStory to automatically extract and match keywords in 30 seconds instead of doing it manually.

3. Wrong File Format

❌ Formats That Often Fail:

• PNG/JPG (image files)
• Apple Pages format
• Google Docs link
• Overly formatted PDFs

✅ The Fix:

Use .docx or simple PDF.

• .docx (Microsoft Word) is the most compatible
• PDF works if it's text-based (not scanned images)
• Never submit screenshots or image files

4. Unclear Job Titles

❌ Bad Examples:

• "Ninja Rockstar Guru" (cute but meaningless)
• "Technical Lead II, Platform Engineering Squad B" (too specific/internal)
• Abbreviations only: "SE3" instead of "Senior Software Engineer"

✅ The Fix:

Use industry-standard job titles that ATS systems recognize:

• Software Engineer
• Product Manager
• Marketing Specialist
• Data Analyst

5. Inconsistent Date Formatting

❌ Confusing Formats:

• Mixing formats: "Jan 2020" and "2021-03"
• Vague dates: "Summer 2019"
• Missing dates entirely

✅ The Fix:

Pick ONE format and stick with it throughout:

✅ January 2020 - March 2023
✅ Jan 2020 - Mar 2023
✅ 01/2020 - 03/2023

6. No Skills Section

❌ The Problem:

ATS systems look for a dedicated Skills section. If you only mention skills in job descriptions, the ATS might miss them.

✅ The Fix:

Add a clear "Skills" section with categories:

SKILLS
━━━━━━
Technical: Python, JavaScript, SQL, AWS, Docker
Tools: Git, Jira, Figma, Tableau
Soft Skills: Project Management, Cross-functional Leadership

7. Acronyms Without Full Terms

❌ Bad Examples:

• "SEO" (without spelling out)
• "CRM" (without context)
• Industry jargon only insiders know

✅ The Fix:

Spell out acronyms on first use:

✅ "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)"
✅ "Customer Relationship Management (CRM) - Salesforce"
✅ "Application Programming Interface (API) development"

8. Non-Standard Section Headers

❌ Confusing Headers:

• "My Journey" instead of "Experience"
• "Where I Learned" instead of "Education"
• "What I'm Good At" instead of "Skills"

✅ The Fix:

Use standard section names ATS systems recognize:

✅ Work Experience (or Professional Experience)
✅ Education
✅ Skills (or Technical Skills)
✅ Certifications
✅ Projects

9. Typos and Grammatical Errors

❌ The Problem:

A typo in a key skill means the ATS won't match it. "Javascrpt" ≠ "JavaScript" to a computer.

✅ The Fix:

1. Use spell check (obvious but often skipped)
2. Copy exact terms from job description to avoid spelling variations
3. Have someone else proofread before submitting
4. Use an ATS scanner tool to verify keywords are recognized

10. Missing Contact Information

❌ Common Mistakes:

• Contact info in header/footer (ATS can't read)
• Image of email address instead of text
• Missing phone number or email

✅ The Fix:

Put contact info at the top in plain text:

JANE DOE
jane.doe@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | linkedin.com/in/janedoe
San Francisco, CA

11. Irrelevant Information

❌ What Hurts Your Score:

• Unrelated work experience (unless you're changing careers)
• Every skill you've ever touched (focus on relevant ones)
• Hobbies that don't relate to the job

✅ The Fix:

Tailor your resume for each job.

• Remove or minimize irrelevant experience
• Emphasize skills mentioned in the job description
• Reorder bullets to put most relevant achievements first

12. Generic, One-Size-Fits-All Resume

❌ The Biggest Mistake:

Sending the same resume to every job guarantees low ATS scores. Each company's ATS is looking for different keywords and qualifications.

✅ The Fix:

Customize your resume for each application.

This doesn't mean rewriting everything—just adjusting keywords, emphasis, and skills to match the job description.

The Fast Way to Fix ATS Issues

Manually fixing all these issues for every job application is time-consuming. That's why tools like SkillStory exist.

How SkillStory Solves ATS Problems:

✅ Automatically extracts keywords from job descriptions
✅ Scans your resume for ATS compatibility issues
✅ Suggests improvements for formatting, keywords, and phrasing
✅ Tailors your resume in 30 seconds instead of 30 minutes
✅ Tracks application success rates so you know what works

ATS Rejection Checklist

Before submitting your next application, verify:

☐ Simple formatting (no text boxes, images, or complex layouts)
☐ Keywords from job description included with exact phrasing
☐ File format is .docx or text-based PDF
☐ Standard job titles (not internal/creative ones)
☐ Consistent date formatting throughout
☐ Dedicated Skills section with relevant keywords
☐ Acronyms spelled out on first use
☐ Standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills)
☐ Zero typos in key skills and job titles
☐ Contact info at top in plain text (not header/footer)
☐ Irrelevant info removed or minimized
☐ Resume customized for this specific job

Your Next Steps

Now that you know why ATS systems reject resumes, it's time to fix yours:

1. Audit your current resume against the 12 issues above
2. Simplify formatting and remove graphics
3. Add a Skills section with keywords from your target jobs
4. Test your resume with an ATS scanner tool
5. Tailor your resume for each application going forward

Fix Your ATS Issues in 30 Seconds

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on ATS compatibility, keyword matching, and formatting issues.

Scan Your Resume for Free