No matter if you call it a resume, kick it up a notch with the original French spelling as résumé or toss in your finest Latin and describe your Word doc as a curriculum vitae (CV)—this list of all your goings-on in your professional life matters—a lot.

But here’s the rub: In the world of AI-everything, getting your catalog of accomplishments across the finish line and into a recruiter's hands now means navigating the applicant tracking system, otherwise known as ATS.

The hiring game isn’t what it was just a few years ago, and making sure your resume is just right can make a world of difference in landing on a recruiter’s desk or disappearing into the internet ether.

The ATS reality check

For HR professionals, ATS makes life easier—it screens applicants and cuts down on administrative work. But here’s the catch for you and for them: Many highly qualified candidates never make it past the automated gatekeeper.

As helpful as AI can be, it often still misses the mark: offering an impersonal experience for applicants, risking encoded bias and—if the system is poorly configured by the hiring company—rejecting great people every time.

How to get through the ATS hurdle

Improving your chances of a real person laying eyes on your resume—and often cover letters, too—requires work for each job you apply for. Keep in mind that with a few tweaks each time, you’ll provide yourself with many more opportunities than just crossing your fingers and hoping your all-encompassing resume will make it through the seemingly iron-clad ATS that so many dread. 

Make ATS love you

• Customize your resume for each job.
• Keep it to one page.
• Mirror language from the job description without keyword stuffing.
• Format consistently (especially bullet points).
• Use standard fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman).
• Spell out acronyms—include both the acronym and the full term; some ATS scan for one but not the other.
• Stick with standard headers (e.g., Skills, Education, Experience).
• Keep it clean—no graphics, special characters, tables or photos that confuse the ATS.
• Save as a Word doc—many systems don’t handle PDFs well.

Stand out once you’re through

Whew—you’ve made it to the other side! Here’s how to shine once the recruiter has you in their sights:

• Name your Word doc professionally (e.g., FirstName_LastName_Resume).
• Highlight internships and leadership roles.
• Brag shamelessly—share your GPA, your CPA Exam scores, the works!
• Quantify as much as you can (e.g., Increased revenue by 20 percent).
• Mention networking events you’ve attended.
• Proofread ruthlessly.
• Google yourself before recruiters do—now’s your chance to delete those TikTok dances from years past.

Once you’ve massaged, polished and personalized each resume, remember: Clearing the ATS checkpoint means a bona fide human is reading all about you—so make your resume clear, readable and engaging. At the end of the day, it’s not AI who will extend an invitation to interview.

Pro tip: If you can choose the day to interview, go for Tuesday—Richard Edwards, founder and CEO of Vibra Media, a U.K.-based digital public relations agency, calls it the golden ticket.

ATS might feel like a looming futuristic monster dead set on blocking your way to a new gig, but it’s not. A little time, patience and a savvy game plan will get you on the road to your dream job.

Best of luck! 🍀

Keep growing beyond your resume

Want to stand out even more? INCPAS student events give you the chance to meet employers, hear career insights firsthand and start building your network now. From virtual sessions on CPA licensure and interview prep to in-person meet-ups and employer chats, you’ll gain the connections and confidence that go beyond what’s on your résumé.

See the full lineup at incpas.org/StudentEvents.