Build an ATS-ready résumé without keyword stuffing

Start with evidence, not formatting

An applicant tracking system must first extract your text. Use familiar section names such as Experience, Education, and Skills. Keep dates consistent, avoid text embedded in images, and place important facts in the main document rather than headers or footers. A simple layout is usually easier for both software and recruiters to scan.

Build a vacancy evidence map

Read the job description once for responsibilities and again for requirements. Create three columns: requirement, your evidence, and the résumé line that proves it. Use the employer's term only when it accurately describes your experience. If a vacancy asks for Kubernetes and you only completed a course, label it as training rather than production experience.

Write achievement bullets

A useful bullet explains the situation, your action, and the result. Numbers help when they are real and understandable: response time reduced, customers supported, defects prevented, revenue protected, or hours saved. Never invent a percentage because an AI tool suggested one. If a result was shared by a team, describe your contribution honestly.

Run the final checks

• Confirm that phone, email, portfolio, and location are current.
• Expand uncommon abbreviations the first time they appear.
• Check that every important keyword has supporting evidence nearby.
• Export a selectable-text PDF and reopen it before uploading.
• Keep a master résumé, then create a focused copy for each role.

An ATS score is a diagnostic hint, not a hiring decision. A lower score can reveal missing evidence, but a high score cannot replace relevant experience, truthful claims, or a clear application.