ATS Templates: Is ATS rejecting my resume? (No. Here is what to think about instead)

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ATS is not the boogeyman it is made out to be. We regularly conduct interviews with recruiters from across North America and Europe, to inform the development of our AI resume builder. Only a tiny fraction of companies (be it small firms or the tech giants) actually use AI features to sort candidates, and even in our latest round of 12 interviews, we found none that auto-reject applications based on keywords or AI assessments. Recruiters take pride in their work and rightfully so. They also distrust AI and are concerned about potential legal implications. To get more interviews, you need to impress recruiters and stand out. Start with one of the standout templates below and use the built-in AI features to make your resume better.

Modern

The most used template by Enhancv users for the third year in a row. It fits a lot of information on a single page and is yet easy to read.

Ivy League

A modernized Harvard template featuring a stand-out design and a sophisticated feel. Compact enough to fit stand-out section like a tailored summary and a strengths section, yet features enough whitespace.

A two column resume template with a wider column for experience and a narrower, aqua colored column for your highlights.

Elegant

A beautiful template that highlights the strengths & uniqueness of the applicant in a dedicated column, while leaving most of the space for the employment history & education.

Polished

A stand-out design that looks professional, but also invites the recruiter to spend more time on the resume.

Double Column

The structure & layout of this templates are easy to follow ensuring your application will get more attention than the 20 other resumes waiting for the recruiter to check.

Creative

This design accentuates your header in a way that captures recruiters' attention, encouraging them to explore further. Versatile and adaptable, it's suitable for a broad range of industries.

Timeline

This Enhancv template features our signature timeline design, effectively highlighting your career progression and development. It's an excellent choice for professionals at any stage, from entry to senior level, and is particularly well-suited for fields like operations, business, and logistics.

Stylish

Designed to transform a typically lengthy 2 or 3-page resume into a concise, single-page document. The recruiters will thank you for saving their time.

Single Column

A classic design enhanced to stand out subtly. Highlighted headings improve readability, allowing recruiters to quickly grasp your application and see how you fit the role.

Compact

Maximizes space to fit more than 90% template, offering an efficient yet comprehensive layout. If you have 15 years of experience or more and have had many different roles, this is a perfect fit for you.

Classic

Traditional Resume with a modern touch: This timeless design appeals to conservative industries, offering a sleek, professional appearance that aligns with the standards of traditional sectors.

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How to Impress Recruiters

Design matters

Use a template with some color to make reading easier. This also runs contrary to popular wisdom, but in our experience recruiters love to be able to quickly see company names and some highlights in the resume.

Create a Proper Cover Letter

Some recruiters care - some don't. You don't know who you are going to run across, so maximize your chances. Writing a cover letter based on your resume and the job ad takes a couple of minutes with ChatGPT - or seconds with a product like Enhancv.

Impress Immediately

Create a tailored summary section at the very top - again using AI, you can have a custom summary that is super-focused on the company, its culture, and how you are a good fit.

Include the Relevant Keywords

Wait, did we just say ATS does not reject applicants based on keywords? Yes, but recruiters do actually scan quickly for all the main skills and technologies listed in the job ad. Enhancv's ATS check does that for each job application for you.

It also serves to future-proof your resume. Our next round of research will happen in the fall of 2024 - and who knows, we may start seeing ATS AI capabilities actually being used by some companies.

Frequently asked questions about ATS

Do ATS systems reject resumes automatically?

No, they don't - at least not for the vast majority of companies. Yor application could be rejected if you did not have the right answer to one of the knock-out questions in the application, but those are usually rather obvious.

Do I need an ATS scanner?

ATS scanners are actually good for helping you add keywords and skills - but not for the ATS system, but rather for the recruiters.

Will my resume be seen by a recruiter?

Maybe. In the current tough job market recruiters often have enough qualified applicants after reviewing just a fraction of the resumes they received. Everybody else gets an automatic.