What Recruiters and Hiring Platforms Really Look for in a Resume
- Ethan Cole
- Sep 6, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 6, 2025
When a recruiter opens your resume, you typically have less than ten seconds to make an impression. That’s not much time, and in most cases the first pass isn’t even done by a human being. Companies rely heavily on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sort through hundreds of applications. This means your resume has to appeal to two different audiences: the software that scans it first, and the recruiter who decides whether to move you forward.
This guide explains what both ATS programs and recruiters value most, why so many resumes are rejected immediately, and how to structure your own resume so it clears every hurdle.
Why Resumes Are Filtered Out Before Anyone Reads Them
The role of ATS systems
Nearly all large organizations, and most mid-sized ones, use automated tracking software to screen candidates. These programs scan for keywords that match the job description. If those words aren’t in your document—or if your formatting prevents the system from reading them—your resume may never reach a human reviewer.
The recruiter’s time crunch
Even if your resume gets through the software, the average recruiter spends under ten seconds on the first review. They skim for job titles, major skills, and education. A cluttered page, too much fluff, or weak formatting almost guarantees your application won’t advance.
The Core Elements Recruiters Expect to See
Clear and Accessible Contact Information
List your full name, city and state, phone number, and a professional email address. Including a LinkedIn profile or online portfolio link adds credibility.
A Focused Summary or Career Statement
At the top, include two or three concise sentences that describe your professional background and highlight what you bring to the role. This should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for.
Relevant Work Experience
Recruiters don’t want a full autobiography. Use reverse chronological order and emphasize achievements rather than responsibilities. For example, “Increased revenue by 18 percent in one year” makes a stronger impression than “Responsible for sales performance.”
Strategic Use of Keywords
Mirror the exact language from the job posting. If the role asks for “project management experience,” use that phrasing rather than rewording it.
Education and Certifications
List your most recent degree first, then add certifications that are directly relevant to the role, such as Google Analytics, PMP, or AWS.
Clean, Readable Formatting
Keep it simple: one page for early-career professionals, two at most for senior candidates. Choose fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Avoid graphics, images, and unusual layouts unless you’re in a creative industry where design is part of the job.
What Hiring Platforms Prioritize
Indeed and ZipRecruiter
These platforms extract text from your uploaded resume. They look for keyword matches and alignment between the job title in the posting and the one on your resume.
Recruiters often search by keyword. Profiles that use accurate job titles and include relevant skills are more likely to surface. Endorsements and recommendations strengthen credibility, and these should be consistent with your resume.
Workday, Taleo, and other ATS systems
Format is critical. Tables, images, or unusual layouts confuse the software and may prevent your information from being parsed correctly. Uploading a Word document is often safer than a PDF.
Common Resume Mistakes That Lower Your Chances
Using graphics or columns that software cannot interpret
Sending the same generic resume to every job application
Filling space with buzzwords rather than measurable results
Including outdated objective statements or irrelevant details
How to Optimize for Both ATS and Recruiters
Start with a simple, professional template that ATS can scan easily
Tailor keywords to match each job description
Emphasize accomplishments with measurable outcomes
Save your file in Word format when uploading to job boards, but keep a clean PDF for direct submissions
Limit formatting to bold text, bullet points, and clear headings
Recommended Resume Templates
If you’re ready to update your resume, here are a few free templates designed to meet both recruiter and ATS standards:
Final Thoughts
Recruiters are not looking to reject applicants—they are simply pressed for time and often guided by software filters. The more straightforward and relevant your resume is, the better your odds. By choosing a template that balances clean design with proper keyword placement, you’ll improve your chances of clearing the ATS and catching a recruiter’s eye.
The right structure won’t guarantee a job, but it will get you into the right conversations. Start with one of our free templates, tailor it to the role you want, and you’ll already be ahead of most applicants.
Extremely informative. This article helped me get hired.