How to Improve Your Resume ATS Score: Expert Guide to Success

Introduction

Your resume might be perfect — and still never reach a human. That's the hard truth facing job seekers today. Most companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter candidates before a recruiter ever lays eyes on a single application. If your resume isn't optimized for these systems, it's likely getting discarded automatically, regardless of your qualifications.

The numbers tell a sobering story. Studies suggest that over 75% of resumes are rejected by ATS software before reaching a hiring manager. In a competitive job market, that's a significant barrier standing between you and your next opportunity.

Knowing how to improve your ATS score performance on your resume isn't optional anymore — it's a fundamental job search skill. The good news? It's entirely learnable, and the right tools make the process straightforward.

NextRaise is specifically designed to help candidates close that gap. By analyzing your resume against real ATS criteria, it gives you a clear, actionable roadmap for making targeted improvements rather than guessing what's holding you back.

A well-optimized resume doesn't just pass filters — it positions you as the strongest possible candidate from the first automated touchpoint.

Before diving into exactly how NextRaise helps, it's worth understanding what an ATS score actually measures — and why that number carries so much weight in today's hiring process.

What Is an ATS Score and Why Does It Matter?

As the introduction touched on, most large employers rely on Applicant Tracking Systems to manage the flood of applications they receive. But understanding how these systems score your resume is the first step toward beating them.

An ATS score is a numerical rating — typically on a scale of 0 to 100 — that measures how well your resume matches a specific job posting. The system scans your document for relevant keywords, proper formatting, and structural consistency, then assigns a compatibility score. Recruiters often set a minimum threshold, and resumes that fall below it are automatically filtered out before any human ever sees them.

ATS resume optimization process is the process of deliberately aligning your resume's content, structure, and keyword usage with what these systems are programmed to look for. It's not about gaming the process — it's about ensuring your genuine qualifications are actually readable by the software evaluating you.

According to Free ATS Score Checker & Resume Format Analyzer, common issues that lower scores include non-standard fonts, missing section headers, and keyword gaps between your resume and the job description.

A well-optimized resume doesn't just pass the filter — it positions you as the most relevant candidate before a recruiter reads a single line.

Knowing your current score is the critical first move. The good news? Getting that number takes less than a minute with the right tool.

How to Check Your Resume's ATS Score on NextRaise

Understanding what an ATS score is matters — but knowing yours is what actually moves the needle. That's where NextRaise simplifies the process considerably.

Getting started takes less than two minutes. Simply sign up for a free account, then choose your path: upload an existing resume or build a new one from scratch using the platform's guided builder. Either way, NextRaise functions as a full ATS resume checker tool, scanning your document against key criteria the moment you submit it.

Here's what the process looks like in practice:

• Upload or build — Import a PDF or Word file, or start fresh with a blank template
• Get your score instantly — NextRaise generates your ATS score in roughly 30 seconds
• Review your breakdown — Scores are broken down by category, so you know exactly where you're losing points
• Act on targeted tips — The platform surfaces specific optimization recommendations, not vague suggestions

What makes this approach particularly useful is the specificity of the feedback. Rather than simply flagging a low score, NextRaise tells you why it's low — whether that's keyword gaps, formatting issues, or section structure. You can then make targeted edits and rescan immediately to track your progress.

A strong ATS score isn't just about passing the filter — it's about positioning your resume to get taken seriously before a single human reads it.

Once you understand your current baseline, the natural next step is knowing exactly which levers to pull. The following section walks through seven proven strategies to push that score higher.

7 Proven Ways to Improve Your Resume's ATS Score

Once you've reviewed your score in NextRaise, the real work begins — and it's more straightforward than most job seekers expect. Resume keyword optimization is the foundation, but it's only one piece of a larger puzzle. Here are seven actionable strategies to push your score higher.

1. Mirror the Job Description Language
ATS platforms scan for exact and near-exact keyword matches. Pull critical terms directly from the job posting and work them naturally into your experience, skills, and summary sections.

2. Use a Clean, Standard Format
Avoid tables, text boxes, headers/footers, and graphics. ATS parsers frequently misread these elements, causing key information to get lost entirely.

3. Optimize Your Section Headings
Stick to conventional labels — Work Experience, Education, Skills. Creative alternatives like "Where I've Been" can confuse parsing algorithms.

4. Spell Out Acronyms
Include both the acronym and the full term (e.g., "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)") to capture every possible matching variation.

5. Quantify Achievements
Numbers give context and add weight to keyword-rich bullet points. "Increased revenue by 34%" outperforms "improved revenue" in both readability and relevance scoring.

6. Tailor Each Application Individually
A generic resume rarely scores well. This video guide on ATS-friendly resumes reinforces that customization is non-negotiable at every application stage.

7. Remove Irrelevant Content
Outdated roles, unrelated hobbies, or redundant filler dilute keyword density and reduce your overall score.

Once you've applied these tactics, the natural next question becomes: what score should you actually be aiming for?

What Is a Good ATS Score? Score Ranges Explained

Once you've applied the optimization strategies covered above, a natural question emerges: what number are you actually aiming for? ATS scores aren't one-size-fits-all, but there are widely recognized benchmarks that help you gauge where your resume stands.

Score ranges typically break down like this:

• 0–49 (Low): Your resume likely has significant formatting issues, missing keywords, or weak alignment with the job posting. Most ATS systems will filter it out before a human ever reads it.
• 50–69 (Moderate): You're in the ballpark, but the resume still needs work. Recruiters may see it, but it won't stand out in a competitive pool.
• 70–84 (Good): A solid score that suggests reasonable keyword coverage and clean formatting. You have a realistic chance of advancing.
• 85–100 (Excellent): Strong alignment between your resume and the job requirements. This range signals effective tailoring your resume to the job description — the single most impactful factor in reaching the top of the candidate pile.

In practice, targeting a score of 80 or above is a reasonable benchmark for most competitive roles. However, a higher score doesn't guarantee an interview — it simply ensures your resume clears the automated gatekeeping stage.

It's worth noting that score thresholds vary by industry, role level, and the specific ATS platform an employer uses. A score that earns a callback in one field may fall short in another.

Understanding your target range is empowering — but knowing the specific habits that drag scores down is equally critical. The most damaging mistakes are often surprisingly easy to make, even on an otherwise polished resume.

5 Common Mistakes That Are Killing Your ATS Score

Even with a solid understanding of score ranges and optimization strategies, many job seekers still sabotage their results with the same recurring errors. Identifying these pitfalls is just as important as knowing what to do right.

1. Using graphics, tables, or text boxes
ATS parsers read plain text. Decorative elements — icons, columns, embedded charts — often cause the system to skip entire sections, leaving critical information unread.

2. Relying on synonyms instead of exact job title language
Resume keyword matching depends on precision. If a job posting says "project coordinator" and your resume says "project manager," many systems won't connect the two. Mirror the exact phrasing from the job description wherever it's accurate and honest.

3. Burying keywords in headers or footers
Content placed in document headers and footers is frequently ignored by parsing engines. Keep all meaningful information in the main body of your resume.

4. Using creative section labels
Replacing standard headings like "Work Experience" or "Skills" with creative alternatives — "My Journey" or "Toolbox" — confuses ATS logic and prevents proper categorization.

5. Submitting a one-size-fits-all resume
A generic resume rarely achieves a strong match score. Tailoring your document to each specific role is non-negotiable for competitive results.

Avoiding these five mistakes consistently separates candidates who get callbacks from those who never hear back — regardless of actual qualifications.

Still have questions about the process? The next section addresses the most common ones directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes an ATS-compliant resume format different from a standard resume?

An ATS-compliant resume format uses clean, parseable structure — standard fonts, simple layouts, and no graphics or tables — so automated systems can extract your information accurately. Standard resumes prioritized for visual appeal often include design elements that confuse parsers and cause critical details to be misread or dropped entirely.

How long does it typically take to improve an ATS score?

In practice, most job seekers see meaningful score improvements within one to two revision cycles. Targeted keyword optimization and formatting corrections are usually the fastest wins. Complex issues like structural problems may require a more thorough rewrite.

Does a higher ATS score guarantee an interview?

No — and that's an important caveat. A strong ATS score increases the likelihood that a human recruiter will actually see your resume, but the content still needs to make a compelling case. Think of the score as clearing the gate, not winning the race.

Should I tailor my resume for every job application?

Absolutely. A common pattern is that generic resumes consistently underperform compared to role-specific versions, even when the candidate's qualifications are identical. Each job description contains unique keywords and priorities worth reflecting.

Can I check my score for free?

Yes. Tools exist that provide instant feedback without cost, making it straightforward to start benchmarking your resume right away — which brings us to the next logical step.

Start Improving Your ATS Score Today

Getting your resume past automated screening systems isn't a matter of luck — it's a matter of strategy. Throughout this guide, you've seen how ATS scoring works, what score ranges actually mean, and the formatting, keyword, and structural choices that move the needle from "rejected" to "interview ready."

The path forward is straightforward. Audit your current resume against the core principles covered here: clean formatting, targeted keywords, strong strong resume action verbs, and a structure that ATS parsers can read without confusion. Each of these elements compounds. Fix one, and you see modest gains. Fix all of them, and your score can shift dramatically.

Here's a quick action checklist before you submit your next application:

• Run a baseline scan to see where your resume currently stands
• Match keywords directly from the job description
• Replace weak phrasing with powerful strong resume action verbs like led, built, increased, and delivered
• Strip out tables, graphics, and headers/footers that confuse parsers
• Tailor each version of your resume to the specific role

A resume that ranks well with ATS systems is simply a resume that communicates clearly — to both algorithms and hiring managers.

Start your free analysis today with the Free ATS Score Checker & Resume Format Analyzer and take the guesswork out of your job search.

Key Takeaways

• Upload or build — Import a PDF or Word file, or start fresh with a blank template
• Get your score instantly — NextRaise generates your ATS score in roughly 30 seconds
• Review your breakdown — Scores are broken down by category, so you know exactly where you're losing points
• Act on targeted tips — The platform surfaces specific optimization recommendations, not vague suggestions
• 0–49 (Low): Your resume likely has significant formatting issues, missing keywords, or weak alignment with the job posting. Most ATS systems will filter it out before a human ever reads it.