3 min read · updated 16 October 2026

ATS résumé tips for freshers: pass the screen and the recruiter

You send out 30 applications and hear back from none. Sometimes the problem is how the résumé is read, by software first and then by a person who spends seconds on it.

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What an ATS actually does

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software that stores applications, extracts text from résumés and lets recruiters search and filter. Most do not “reject” people on their own, but they depend on reading your file correctly. If your layout confuses the parser, your skills and dates can end up scrambled or missing, and a recruiter searching for “SQL” won’t find you.

Treat the ATS as two readers: first a parser, then a person with very little time. Write for both.

Format rules that keep a résumé readable

• One page for freshers. Two only if you have substantial relevant work.
• Single column. Avoid two-column templates, sidebars and text boxes.
• Standard section names: Education, Experience or Internships, Projects, Skills, Positions of Responsibility, Achievements.
• No tables, icons, skill-rating bars or images for important content. A photo is not needed in India.
• Plain fonts (Calibri, Arial, Garamond) at 10 to 12 points, with clear spacing.
• File type: a text-based PDF unless the application asks for Word. Don’t send a scanned image or a screenshot.
• Contact line: name, phone, email, LinkedIn, and a portfolio or GitHub link if relevant. Put it in the page body, not the header or footer, where parsers can miss it.
• Dates in a consistent format, such as “Jun 2026 to Aug 2026”.

Keywords: match the job without lying

Read the job description and note the tools and skills it repeats. Where you really have them, use the same words in your skills section and your bullets. Write “Microsoft Excel” and “SQL”, not just “data skills”. Spell out an acronym once if the ad uses both forms, for example “search engine optimisation (SEO)”. Never add a skill you can’t discuss in an interview.

Writing bullets that get attention

Use the shape: strong verb + what you did + result or scale.

• Weak: “Responsible for managing the college fest’s social media.”
• Better: “Managed the fest’s Instagram and LinkedIn pages; grew followers from 1,200 to 3,500 in six weeks.”

Rules of thumb: start with a verb (built, analysed, led, designed, negotiated); include a number when you honestly have one; keep each bullet to one or two lines; three to five bullets for each item. “Responsible for” is not a verb you want to start with.

What freshers can put when there is no job history

• Projects: what you built, the tools, and the outcome.
• Internships and part-time work, even short ones.
• Positions of responsibility: clubs, societies, fest teams, class representative roles.
• Competitions and certifications that are relevant to the role.
• Coursework only if it is directly relevant.

Final checklist before you hit send

1. One page, one column, standard headings.
2. Your phone and email are in the body, not the header.
3. Every bullet starts with a verb and says what changed.
4. The top five skills from the job description appear honestly.
5. No spelling mistakes (read it aloud).
6. The file is a text PDF named like “Name-Surname-Resume.pdf”.
7. Copy the text of the PDF into a plain text editor; if it comes out in the wrong order, simplify the layout.

Common questions

Do ATS systems automatically reject résumés?

Some employers do configure knockout filters (for example a minimum CGPA or degree), but most systems mainly parse and store. A recruiter or hiring manager usually still decides.

Is a PDF or a Word file better?

A text-based PDF is safe in most cases. If the application portal asks for Word, use Word. Never use an image-only PDF.

Should I add an objective statement?

A two-line summary at the top can help if it is specific to the role. A generic “seeking a challenging position” adds nothing.

How many keywords is too many?

Use words you can back up with work. A list of 40 tools you can’t discuss hurts you at the interview.

Keep reading

• How to read a job description (and decide whether to apply)

  Learn to read a job description: must-haves vs wish-lists, hidden meanings, keywords for your résumé, red flags and the questions to ask before applying.

• Cold email for an internship: templates that get replies

  How to write a cold email or LinkedIn message for an internship, with four copy-and-adapt templates: hiring manager, alumnus referral, follow-up and thank you.

• “Tell me about yourself”: how freshers should answer

  A simple present-past-future structure for “tell me about yourself”, with three sample answers for freshers, common mistakes and how to adapt it.

Written by the Shortlists team for students in India. General information, not professional advice. Last updated 16 October 2026.