Beat the bots: How to write an ATS-friendly, AI-proof resume

What You’ll Learn in This Guide

• The difference between ATS-friendly and AI-proof resumes—and why both matter
• How to format your resume to pass automated screeners without losing human appeal
• Strategies to naturally integrate job description keywords for better searchability
• How to optimize your LinkedIn profile to align with your resume and boost credibility
• Insights from hiring experts Jax Scott and Sophie Goodwin on using AI responsibly in recruitment
• Common resume mistakes that could cause you to get filtered out even if you're qualified

The traditional resume, with its neat rows of bullet points and chronological history, is undergoing a transformation. As technology reshapes the hiring process, it's time to rethink how you present yourself to potential employers. Gone are the days of wading through piles of resumes by hand. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) now scan applications using keywords and formatting algorithms to filter candidates. This means your resume needs to be optimized for machine readability while remaining compelling to human readers. This blog offers a comprehensive guide to creating an ATS-friendly, AI-proof resume that aligns with modern hiring practices.

Why ATS-Friendly Resumes Matter

In a recent ACI Learning webinar, Unlock the Algorithm: How to Build a Tech Resume That Gets Noticed, Alison Ayers, Career Services Instructor for the ACI Learning Tech Academy, and edutainer Lauren Deal shared best practices for crafting effective resumes. Ayers emphasized the importance of ATS optimization, noting that:

• Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies and 66% of large companies use ATS in their hiring processes.
• There are over 200 types of ATS, each with unique specifications for scanning resumes.

An ATS-friendly resume ensures your application gets through these systems and in front of human decision-makers.

How to Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly and AI-Proof

To build an effective ATS-optimized and AI-proof resume:

• Use simple, consistent formatting. Avoid graphics, images, tables, or columns.
• Stick to standard section headers like "Experience," "Education," and "Skills."
• Avoid collapsible sections and unusual layout choices that ATS might not recognize.
• Use sans-serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri) and maintain a readable font size.
• Save your resume as a PDF to ensure layout consistency across systems.
• Incorporate keywords from the job description naturally into your resume.
• Spell out acronyms the first time you use them (e.g., "Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)").
• Proofread thoroughly using tools like Grammarly to catch grammatical and formatting errors.

An AI-proof resume means your application is structured and worded in a way that avoids common pitfalls in automated resume screening while still impressing hiring managers.

Considerations from the Employer Side

Beyond ATS, many companies are now using AI to enhance their hiring processes. In a recent ACI Learning interview, edutainer Sophie Goodwin and Jax Scott, founder of Outpost Gray, explored how business leaders can integrate AI responsibly. Scott outlined several benefits:

• Faster screening: Traditional manual resume review has been sped up by 75% to 100% through AI.
• Entry-level targeting: AI can be a significant asset by easily identifying and targeting entry-level skills required for a position.

However, Scott also shared important caveats. Weakly customized resumes often don’t contain the right keywords, leading to rejections by AI, even when the candidate may be qualified. She recommended:

• Educating job seekers on the importance of customizing resumes with relevant keywords for each position.
• Hiring teams should audit rejected resumes to detect patterns of bias such as age or gender.
• Remembering that it's not just the tool (AI) but how it's used that matters.

Scott emphasized that while AI can improve efficiency, it shouldn’t eliminate human oversight:

• Avoid chatbots for initial interviews or test screenings instead of human recruiters.
• Maintain human interaction to evaluate cultural fit and communication style.
• Foster intentionality in ensuring that the human element remains central throughout the hiring process.

Beyond the Resume

Strengthen Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile should not be an afterthought. It’s often the first place a recruiter looks after reviewing your resume. Make sure your job titles, dates, and achievements are consistent across both platforms. Use your profile summary to inject personality, elaborate on your key strengths, and include industry-relevant keywords that match your resume. A strong LinkedIn presence can reaffirm your credibility and help you stand out in competitive applicant pools.

Use Keywords with Purpose

Many job seekers make the mistake of cramming in buzzwords without strategy. Instead, carefully read the job description and identify key terms related to skills, tools, certifications, and job responsibilities. Integrate these keywords naturally into your experience and skills sections, using the same language and phrasing where possible. This approach helps you align with ATS scanning logic while still sounding authentic to human readers. It's also important to remain honest when choosing keywords, as you'll want to be able to craft your LinkedIn profile to complement your resume. You don't want them to feel like they belond to different people.

Your Digital Presence

An ATS-friendly and AI-proof resume is only one part of your application. Your online presence, especially your LinkedIn profile, should complement your resume:

• Match job titles, dates, and skills across platforms.
• Highlight endorsements, projects, and achievements.
• Use your profile to expand on accomplishments that don’t fit in a one-page resume.

Also, stay informed with trusted sources like LinkedIn, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, and Glassdoor.

Conclusion

Creating an ATS-friendly, AI-proof resume is essential in today’s digital hiring landscape. By focusing on clear formatting, relevant keywords, and simplicity, you can ensure your resume is both machine-readable and human-friendly. At the same time, staying aware of how AI plays into the hiring process can help you tailor your application further—and avoid being filtered out unfairly. And don’t forget: while technology can help open doors, it’s the human connection that closes the deal.

Additional resources from ACI Learning:

• Webinar – Unlock the algorithm: How to build a tech resume that gets noticed

• Blog - The ultimate 30-60-90 day plan for launching your IT career

• Blog and webinar - ACI Leadership Series: AI and the Hiring Process

Other sources:

• Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidmorel/2022/03/15/perfect-your-hiring-game-before-the-best-candidates-get-away/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-ai-transforming-recruitment-hiring-dimuthu-d-silva

• Recruiter.com: https://www.recruiter.com/recruiting/how-artificial-intelligence-is-transforming-recruiting-today/