Back to Blog

The Ultimate Guide: How ATS Handles Bullet Points (Proven Tips)

10 min read

ResumizeAI

ats and templates
How ATS Handles Bullet Points
ATS bullet points
resume formatting
ATS optimization
+6 more

Struggling to get past the ATS despite a strong resume? Bullet points are often the silent culprit. This guide shows exactly how ATS handles bullet points, common parsing pitfalls, and simple, proven fixes. You’ll learn how to format bullets, which characters to avoid, and real before/after examples that increased interview invites. By the end, you’ll have actionable rules to make your bullets ATS-friendly and compelling to recruiters.

The Ultimate Guide: How ATS Handles Bullet Points (Proven Tips)

How ATS Reads Your Resume: The Basics of Bullet Point Parsing

Best Bullet Formats for ATS: Characters, Lengths, and Structure

Common Parsing Errors with Bullet Points (And How to Fix Them)

Writing Bullet Points That Serve Both ATS and Humans

Practical Testing: How to Verify ATS Parses Your Bullets Correctly

Advanced Tips: Structuring Bullets for Niche Roles and Career Changes

Quick Fixes and a 30-Minute Bullet Audit You Can Do Now

Key Takeaways

  • 1Use plain bullets or hyphens and a single-column layout to ensure ATS parses each bullet correctly.
  • 2Write bullets with a three-part formula: action verb + method/tool + measurable result.
  • 3Keep bullets 10–25 words, start with strong verbs, and include at least one metric when possible.
  • 4Run plain-text conversion and an ATS parser (e.g., Resumize.ai) to spot parsing errors and fix them quickly.
  • 5Avoid decorative symbols, tables, and text boxes; they often break parsing and drop keywords.
  • 6For career changes, add a 'Relevant Projects' or 'Technical Skills' section with clear, comma-separated keywords.
  • 7Perform a 30-minute audit: standardize bullets, rewrite top achievements, and retest until parsing is clean.

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

Avoid decorative symbols. Some ATS convert these into unreadable characters or blank spaces. Stick with standard bullets (•) or hyphens (-) to ensure consistent parsing across systems.
Aim for 10–25 words per bullet. If you need more context, split into two bullets—one for the task and one for the result. This makes parsing reliable while preserving clarity for recruiters.
Use 4–6 polished bullets for each relevant role. Focus on achievements over responsibilities and place the most impactful bullets at the top of each job entry.
Resumize.ai highlights parsing issues and suggests concrete rewrites and formatting fixes. It accelerates the process but you should review suggested edits for accuracy and tone.

Related Articles

The Ultimate Guide to Resume Headers ATS Can Read Correctly
ats and templates
9 min read

The Ultimate Guide to Resume Headers ATS Can Read Correctly

Struggling to get past Applicant Tracking Systems? Your resume header might be the invisible gatekeeper. This guide shows you how to build resume headers ATS can read correctly—step-by-step, with proven examples, common mistakes to avoid, and quick templates you can copy. Learn how to format contact info, choose readable job titles, handle multiple locations or URLs, and make your resume ATS-friendly without sacrificing design. By the end you'll have concrete header examples that pass ATS parsing, plus tools like Resumize.ai to automate the process and speed your job search.

Resume Headers ATS Can Read Correctly
ATS resume header
ATS-friendly resume
+7
Read more
Ultimate Guide to ATS and Hyphenated Job Titles (Proven Tips)
ats and templates
10 min read

Ultimate Guide to ATS and Hyphenated Job Titles (Proven Tips)

Confused why your resume isn’t getting through despite the right skills? Hyphenated job titles — like "Project-Manager" or "Front-End Developer" — can trip Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). This guide reveals why hyphens matter, how ATS parse them, and step-by-step fixes that improve match rates. You'll get real examples, quick formatting rules, and a checklist to optimize titles for both humans and machines. Implement these proven tactics and boost your resume's visibility today.

ats and hyphenated job titles
applicant tracking system
ATS optimization
+6
Read more
The Ultimate Guide: Why 75% of Resumes Never Reach Human Eyes
ats and templates
10 min read

The Ultimate Guide: Why 75% of Resumes Never Reach Human Eyes

Imagine spending hours perfecting your resume only to have it eliminated before a recruiter ever sees it. You're not alone — studies and ATS data suggest up to 75% of resumes never reach human eyes. This guide breaks down why that happens, reveals the exact screening rules hiring systems use, and gives step-by-step fixes you can apply today. Learn three quick wins, eight technical tweaks, and how tools like Resumize.ai can help you craft an ATS-proof resume that gets read.

75% of resumes never reach human eyes
ATS
resume templates
+6
Read more

Ready to Build Your Perfect Resume?

Put these insights into action with our AI-powered resume builder

Start Building Free