What Is an ATS? How Applicant Tracking Systems Work

An Applicant Tracking System, commonly called an ATS, is software that employers and recruiting teams use to collect, organize, search, and manage job applications.

Instead of handling every application manually from the beginning, recruiters can use an ATS to store resumes, organize candidates, search application information, and manage candidates through different stages of the hiring process.

The exact process depends on the ATS used by an employer, but an applicant tracking system generally receives information from a job application and stores it in a searchable candidate record.

A resume may contain information such as work experience, education, skills, certifications, job titles, projects, and other qualifications. Recruiters can then search or filter candidate information when reviewing applications.

Different applicant tracking systems work differently, so there is no universal list of rules used by every employer. However, clear and relevant resume information can make it easier for both software and recruiters to understand your qualifications.

Important areas can include relevant skills, job-related terminology, work experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and clearly organized resume sections.

Job descriptions often contain specific terms describing skills, technologies, qualifications, responsibilities, and experience requirements.

If those terms accurately describe your own qualifications, using the relevant terminology naturally in your resume can make the connection between your experience and the position easier to identify.

You should not add keywords that do not accurately describe your skills or experience. The goal is to communicate your real qualifications clearly rather than artificially filling your resume with keywords.

Not necessarily. A common misconception is that every ATS automatically gives each resume a score and rejects anything below a particular number.

Applicant tracking systems can be configured and used differently by different employers. An ATS may help recruiters organize applications, search candidate information, and manage the hiring process, but it does not represent one universal screening method.

For this reason, an online ATS checker cannot guarantee that a resume will pass a particular employer's applicant tracking system.

Start by carefully reviewing the job description. Identify the skills, qualifications, responsibilities, tools, technologies, and experience that are genuinely relevant to the position.

Then review your resume and make sure your relevant qualifications are clearly represented. Use straightforward section headings, readable formatting, and accurate descriptions of your experience.

The objective is not to write a resume exclusively for software. A strong resume should communicate your qualifications clearly to both applicant tracking systems and human reviewers.

Tailoring your resume to the specific position can help you emphasize the experience and qualifications that are most relevant to that job.

Two positions with the same or similar job titles can have different responsibilities and requirements. Reviewing each job description allows you to highlight the skills and experience that genuinely match the position.

Tailoring does not mean claiming skills or experience you do not have. Your resume should always remain accurate and truthful.

Using an overly complicated layout can make important information harder to identify. A straightforward structure with clearly labeled sections is generally easier to read.

Another common problem is failing to mention relevant qualifications that are already part of your experience. If you genuinely have a skill required by the job, make sure your resume communicates it clearly.

Keyword stuffing is also not a good strategy. Repeating keywords unnecessarily can make a resume difficult to read and does not replace evidence of relevant experience.

No. An ATS checker can compare your resume with a job description and identify potential keyword, alignment, or ATS-oriented issues, but it cannot guarantee how a particular employer's system will process or rank your application.

Different employers may use different applicant tracking systems, configurations, recruitment workflows, and screening processes.

An ATS checker is therefore best used as a review tool rather than as a guarantee of hiring success.

One practical way to review your resume is to compare it directly with the job description you are applying for.

The MartTools ATS Resume Checker can help compare your resume with a job description and identify relevant keywords, content alignment, and potential ATS-oriented issues.

Use the ATS Resume Checker as part of your resume review process, then make changes based on your actual qualifications and the requirements of the position.