The Ultimate Guide to Resume Section Titles ATS Understand
ResumizeAI
Struggling to hear back from jobs despite a strong background? The problem might be your resume section titles. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) rely on familiar headings to parse skills, experience, and education. This guide shows you exactly which section titles ATS understand, why they matter, and how to test and fix them. You’ll get specific examples, before/after comparisons, and a checklist to implement today—so your resume gets read by humans, not lost in software.
Why Resume Section Titles Matter for ATS (and Recruiters)
Primary Section Titles ATS Understand (and Exact Wording to Use)
Secondary and Optional Section Titles That Help Parsing
What to Avoid: Creative Headings That Break ATS Parsing
How to Test and Iterate: Tools, Methods, and Real Tests
Formatting Tips That Complement ATS-Friendly Section Titles
Advanced Tips: Tailoring Section Titles for ATS and Recruiters
Key Takeaways
- 1Use exact, standard section titles (Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications) to improve ATS parsing accuracy.
- 2Avoid creative headings like “My Story” or “Bucket of Cool Projects”; replace them with ATS-friendly equivalents.
- 3Split categories (e.g., Technical Skills vs. Soft Skills) when you have multiple items to improve keyword recognition.
- 4Test your resume with an ATS parser (e.g., Resumize.ai, Jobscan) and iterate using parsed output and match scores.
- 5Keep simple formatting: single-column layout, bold headings on their own lines, consistent date formats, and no tables.
- 6Mirror job posting language in subheadings for niche roles or career changers to boost relevance.
- 7A/B test creative vs. standard headings to measure impact; small heading changes can substantially increase interviews.
Conclusion
Frequently Asked Questions
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