7 ATS Resume Mistakes That Get You Rejected (And How to Fix Them)

Most applicants never hear back — not because they weren't qualified, but because their resume was filtered by an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a human ever saw it. Here are the 7 mistakes I fix most often when rewriting resumes.

1. Fancy templates with columns and graphics

The beautiful two-column resume from Canva? Most ATS engines read it top-to-bottom and mash your columns into gibberish. Use a single-column layout with clear section headings.

2. Job titles that don't match the posting

If the job is called 'Marketing Specialist' and your current title is 'Growth Ninja', the ATS will not match you. Use standard industry titles in the body of the resume, even if your business card says something creative.

3. Missing keywords from the job description

The ATS scores your resume by matching keywords. Pull 8–12 keywords from the job posting and work them naturally into your experience section.

4. No quantified achievements

'Managed social media accounts' says nothing. 'Grew Instagram from 2K to 18K in 8 months' says everything. Every bullet should have a number if possible.

5. Images, logos, or icons

ATS engines can't read images. If your company logo, skill bars, or profile photo are images, they contribute zero and often break the parser. Keep it text-only.

6. PDF exported from a design tool

PDFs from Figma, Canva, or InDesign often embed text as outlines — meaning the ATS reads nothing. Export from Word or Google Docs, or use a resume writer who understands both design and ATS parsing.

7. Generic summary at the top

'Hardworking professional seeking opportunities' is invisible. Your summary is prime real estate — use it to name your role, years of experience, and one measurable win.

The best-designed resume in the world is worthless if the ATS filters it out on line one.

If you're not getting interviews, it is almost always the resume — not you. See my resume writing service for how I fix all seven of these in a single rewrite.