8 Tips to Make an AI Friendly Resume (Examples & Guide)

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Table of contents

What Is ATS and Why Should a Resume Be AI-friendly?
Tips for Building an AI-friendly Resume
AI-friendly Resume Example
Key Takeaways
FAQ About AI-friendly Resumes
Resources to Help With Your Job Search

Artificial intelligence (AI) has infiltrated nearly every area of the job market. From building resumes to automating applications, AI is everywhere. But out of all the AI out there, applicant tracking systems (ATS) are responsible for the biggest impact on job-seekers. Our guide will help you build an AI-friendly resume that sails through ATS screening.

Our guide will cover:

What ATS is and how it has impacted the job search.
Tips for creating an AI-friendly resume that passes through ATS.
A sample AI-friendly resume to help inspire your writing process.

Want to make the most out of AI technology? Our AI Resume Builder streamlines the resume-writing process with AI-powered content suggestions and stylish templates that make a positive lasting impression on recruiters.

What Is ATS and Why Should a Resume Be AI-friendly?

ATS has reshaped the job search process, helping employers save time screening the applications they receive. In a job market where HR may receive hundreds of applications for a single role, these systems help by filtering out job applications that don't match the role's requirements so recruiters can focus on qualified candidates.

But the ATS has flaws. Most ATS works by scanning the document for resume keywords that represent the employer's requirements for the role. Often, these include skills related to the role, but employers can also filter for years of experience, education levels, and other qualifications that they deem essential.

In theory, doesn't this mean that a well-qualified candidate would naturally have an ATS-friendly resume? Yes and no. ATS doesn't use the nuanced judgment that humans do. If your resume features keywords that are close to what the ATS is looking for without using the same phrasing, you may get filtered out — even if your professional skills are a strong match for the role.

Beyond content, your resume's format can also cause the ATS to reject your application. In fact, making a resume that's difficult for ATS to scan is one of the biggest reasons a candidate might get rejected despite being qualified for the position.

Decorative elements, graphics, nontraditional fonts, tables, and columns can confuse ATS. Your resume should strive to be simple, straightforward, and rich in valuable keywords targeted for the specific position.

Tips for Building an AI-friendly Resume

Tip 1

Read the job description thoroughly

We've already touched on the importance of keywords, but it's worth reiterating it. Your resume needs to include exact phrases from the job description that position you as a qualified candidate. Read the job description closely and pay attention to the skills that match your expertise and are essential for the role. Then, strategically add them throughout your application documents in the sections where they fit best.

Pro tip

Having a hard time picking out keywords? Let AI help you write your resume. Ask ChatGPT to provide a list of keywords from the job description for an inside scoop on which phrases AI sees as important.

Tip 2

Make your keywords stand out in every section of your resume

Customizing your resume for every role can feel like a lot of work, so it can be tempting to simply copy and paste each role's keywords into your skills section and be done with it. However, this isn't a strong strategy.

Your resume should flow naturally and should demonstrate how your key accomplishments and skills have prepared you for the role. Integrating keywords into your content where they fit naturally will not only help with ATS screening but will also ensure that your resume is prepared for the human audience that comes next. Recruiters will want to see how your keywords actually fit into your career.

For example, if you were to write a resume targeting this role:

Seeking an experienced project manager to oversee projects from start to finish, ensuring delivery on time, within scope, and on budget.

Responsibilities:

Lead project planning and execution.
Manage team performance and stakeholder communication.
Handle project risks and budget.

Qualifications:

Experience in project management.
Strong leadership and communication skills.
Familiarity with project management tools.
Relevant degree and certifications preferred.

Your resume should include keywords like: project management, leadership, communication, budgeting, and performance. You may also need to use your knowledge of your field and your research skills to deduce other phrases the employer will be looking for.

For a project manager, methodologies like Scrum or Agile, as well as productivity software like Jira and Asana, will help show that you have the technical knowledge to execute the key skills from the job description.

Tip 3

Use a premade template

If you aren't sure how to structure a document to make it AI-friendly and easy to scan, skip the headache. Try a resume builder that formats your resume for you. That way, you'll be confident that you'll use an AI-friendly resume template that is neat, stylish, and designed to pass through ATS.

Tip 4

Avoid complex design choices

When it comes to making a resume that AI can easily scan, simplicity is king. It can be tempting to beautify your resume with flashy design elements, but doing so can hold you back when ATS is likely to be your first audience. Keep your resume style to the basics, especially if you're making it without a premade template.

Tip 5

Choose an appropriate font

You might think that your resume's font doesn't matter to AI. Doesn't all text look the same to a computer? The answer is no! Traditional fonts like Calibri, Times New Roman, and Arial are always a safe bet, but nontraditional fonts can be risky. If you submit a PDF of your resume using a creative font, the ATS can sometimes misunderstand certain letters, which can cause it to interpret big errors or gaps in your resume.

Tip 6

Try an ATS checker

Even if your resume is neatly formatted and filled with relevant keywords, how can you be certain that ATS will scan it properly? To get a sense of how an AI sees your resume, you can scan your resume with tools like an ATS resume checker. These tools provide a score and tips on how to improve your resume's chances of passing the initial AI screening.

Tip 7

Include soft skills in your keywords

When choosing which keywords to include on your resume, it can be tempting to stuff your resume with specific technical skills that feel impressive. Technical skills are a good thing! But don't neglect your soft skills. If the employer mentions conflict resolution or time management skills in the description of the role, it's because those abilities are important traits for a candidate to have. Your resume should reflect that.

Tip 8

Proofread

Make sure your resume is the best it can be by eliminating errors. Read and reread your resume for typos to ensure that you leave a professional impression. Also, a typo in a keyword is a missed opportunity that could contribute to your resume getting overlooked by ATS.

AI-friendly Resume Example

Wondering how you can cater to your AI audience and still produce a resume you can be proud of? Take a look at this ATS-friendly sample resume for inspiration.

Use this template

Key Takeaways

Make your resume readable by AI
Many resumes are rejected by ATS not because of their content but because of their formatting. Choose an AI-friendly resume template or create one by building a simple resume that's light on design elements and uses an appropriate font.
Focus on keywords
A strong resume should showcase why you're the best candidate for the role, even when AI is not involved. To do this well, include keywords from the role's job description so your resume passes ATS screening and recruiter inspection.
Try an ATS resume checker
Want to know what AI thinks of your resume? Scan your document through an ATS resume checker to see if ATS has difficulty understanding your content.
Don't forget soft skills
Stuffing your resume with impressive technical skills might raise your ATS score, but it doesn't give employers a well-rounded view of your abilities. Try to include keywords related to soft skills as well to balance your resume.

FAQ About AI-friendly Resumes

Does every employer use ATS?

No, not every employer uses ATS, but ATS usage is so widespread that it would be a misstep to assume that an employer isn't using it. With hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applicants for online job postings, employers from all sorts of fields use ATS to save time. To give your application its best chance of getting you the interview, your resume should be prepared for ATS screening.

Will employers know if I use AI on my resume?

No, but only if you use AI the right way — i.e., you don't use the content it provides exactly as it was generated. AI is great for generating ideas and having it provide feedback, keywords, and formatting suggestions. But your resume's content should be unique to you.

Make sure you adjust any AI-generated text to reflect your expertise. If you inject enough of your own voice and specific career details into your resume, employers won't be able to tell you used AI — or, at least, they won't have a problem with the small amount of influence AI had on your resume. Remember, the employer is probably using AI too. The important thing is that your resume is honest and personal enough to tell your story.

Does my cover letter need to be AI-friendly?

Yes! When you write a cover letter, you should consider the same AI-friendly strategies you used on your resume. Cover letters also face ATS scrutiny and will be better positioned for success if they are easy for AI systems to scan and are dense with keywords that demonstrate your readiness for the role.

Why does ATS keep automatically rejecting my resume?

It's disheartening when you receive a rejection email right after submitting your resume. When an ATS filter automatically rejects your resume, it may be because the employer has made specific details mandatory, such as years of experience, knowledge of a particular software, or education level. But if you're consistently getting rejected for roles that you're qualified for, it could be that your resume isn't being read properly by the ATS. Try the following strategies:

Switch to a simple template with no graphics or flashy design choices.
Make sure your resume uses just one column. Two-column resumes look fantastic in print but can confuse an ATS.
Place your title, experience level, and a few of the most important keywords at the top of your resume by including them in your resume profile.
Run your resume through an ATS checker to see what the AI is seeing and determine how you can improve your chances.

Resources to Help With Your Job Search

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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.