How to Improve Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) - Part 2 of 2

Jan 21, 2026

Discover how Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) evaluate resumes with fit scores and highlighted skills. Learn why location details can make or break your chances, and how to cleverly present relocation plans. Hear practical tips like mirroring job descriptions and contextualizing dates to avoid red flags. Explore strategies for labeling credentials and job experiences to impress both ATS and recruiters. Finally, get insights on the evolving nature of ATS and what it means for job seekers.

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INSIGHT

ATS Creates The First Impression

Applicant tracking systems create a machine-written first impression for recruiters viewing candidates.
Lesa Edwards explains that ATS outputs include fit score, highlights, missing requirements, and inferred attributes.

INSIGHT

Recruiter View Is A Condensed Snapshot

Recruiters see a concise summary generated by the ATS: headline, match score, top skills, red flags, and location.
These fields drive quick human decisions so the machine output must align with hiring criteria.

ADVICE

Make Location ATS-Friendly

If location matters, include City, State, and ZIP so the ATS can match local searches.
When relocating, list the target city with a parenthetical date to help both the ATS and human readers.

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Be sure to listen to Part 1 of this 2-part series first!

Summary Table: The Recruiter's View

Here’s an example:

Headline: "Strong candidate with direct competitor experience."

Match Score: "9/10 – Meets all educational and technical requirements."

Top Skills: "SQL, Tableau, Salesforce (matches job req)."

Red Flags: "Employment gap of 12 months in 2023; Lacks specific industry certification."

Location: "Located in Austin, TX (Relocation not indicated)."

A Note about Location: If an ATS is set up to find a local candidate for an in-office role, it might automatically hide anyone living more than 50 miles away before a human ever sees the resume.

“Willing to relocate” doesn’t help the ATS – it is looking for City, State, and Zip. If this information will help you – include it. If not – leave it out.

I have a client who currently lives in Charleston, SC but is relocating to Chicago this summer. In her contact information, she could put Chicago, IL (Relocating June 2026). This allows the ATS to pick up the keyword “Chicago, IL,” while the parentheses provide the necessary "human" context for the recruiter.

Two other options are to eliminate City, State, and Zip altogether – or use that of a family member or close friend in the area.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that more senior-level positions work differently – while the employer may be open to paying relocation expenses, their ATS may filter you out for location.

3 Ways to Help Optimize Your Candidacy

Since a machine is writing your "first impression," you need to write for the machine:

1. Mirror the Job Description: If they ask for "Client Relations" and you have "Customer Service," the AI might list "Client Relations" as a Missing Skill. Change your phrasing to match theirs.

2. Contextualize Your Dates: To avoid "job hopping" flags, if you had multiple contract roles, group them under a single heading like "Contract Consultant (2020–2022)" so it looks like one sustained period of employment.

3. State the Obvious: Don't assume the AI knows that "UC Berkeley" is a "Top Tier University" or that "React" implies "JavaScript" knowledge. Explicitly state the skills and credentials the job description asks for.

Note about Job Stacking: While it isn’t a must to repeat the company name for every job you’ve held with the same organization, it is the safest bet because you don’t know how old the company’s ATS system is.

Newer systems can handle a ‘nested’ format, which I recommend for senior leaders. Nesting your roles under one company header will show loyalty and promotability.

Exceptions include if you left the company and came back later (known as a ‘boomerang’ employee), or if you moved to a different department or job function within the same company.

The Document & Coaching Package is designed for current job seekers who want world-class marketing documents, a targeted, proactive job search strategy that gets results, and skill-building around how to network, interview, and negotiate compensation. To learn more or to schedule a consult, visit my website at https://theexclusivecareer.com/doccoach or email me at lesa@theexclusivecareer.com.