ATS Tracking Systems: Complete Guide for Job Seekers and Recruiters in December 2025
Dover
December 29, 2025
•
4 mins
If you're searching for "ATS tracking," you're likely looking for one of two different things. Job seekers and recruiters typically want information about Applicant Tracking Systems, the software that manages job applications and screens resumes.
This guide focuses on ATS in recruitment: what these systems do, how they screen your resume, and how to optimize your application.
When you submit a resume online, an ATS typically processes it first, running an automated evaluation before it reaches a recruiter.
The system parses your resume by scanning the document and extracting structured data (name, contact information, work history, education, and skills). This converts your formatted resume into searchable database fields.
The ATS then matches keywords in your resume against job description requirements, looking for specific skills, job titles, certifications, and industry terms the employer specified.
Based on this analysis, the system assesses alignment and ranks you against other applicants based on role requirements. This ranking determines which candidates appear at the top of the recruiter's queue. 97.8% of Fortune 500 companies use these systems to filter applicants before human review, so formatting your resume correctly and including relevant keywords directly impacts whether you get an interview.
You've probably heard that 75% of resumes never reach human eyes because ATS systems automatically reject them. This statistic gets repeated everywhere, but it's misleading.
The reality? 92% of recruiters report that their systems do not auto-reject resumes based on formatting, content, or design. ATS software doesn't reject candidates outright. It ranks and organizes them.
Human recruiters still make the final decisions. The system simply helps them manage volume by surfacing top matches first. If your resume doesn't get reviewed, it's usually because hundreds of other applicants ranked higher or the recruiter stopped reviewing after finding enough qualified candidates.
Core Features of Applicant Tracking Systems
Every ATS handles the fundamentals differently, but certain capabilities define the category.
Resume Parsing & Candidate Database
The system extracts data from resumes and stores it in searchable fields. You can search your entire candidate pool by skills, location, experience level, or previous employers without reopening documents.
Multi-Board Job Distribution
Post once and syndicate to dozens of job boards simultaneously. Dover pushes openings to 70+ sites with one click, collecting all applicants in a unified inbox.
Collaborative Hiring Workflows
Team members leave structured feedback on candidates, view interview scorecards, and move applicants through hiring stages together. Everyone sees the same information in real time.
Creating ATS-Friendly Resumes
Structure your resume with standard section headers the parsing software recognizes: "Work Experience," "Education," and "Skills." Creative header names prevent the system from categorizing your information correctly.
Use a single-column layout with chronological work history. Multi-column designs break parsing algorithms that read left to right and top to bottom, scrambling your content in the database.
Avoid graphics, logos, photos, and tables. Parsers either skip or misread these elements. Headers and footers also cause problems, so place your contact information in the main body of the document.
Choose standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, or Georgia. Save as .docx when possible, which parses more reliably than PDF across different systems.
For keywords, mirror the job description's exact language. When a posting says "project management," use that phrase instead of "managed projects." Include both acronyms and full terms for credentials (MBA and Master of Business Administration).
The goal is clarity, not gaming the system. Write for the recruiter who reads your resume after it passes the ATS filters.
ATS Resume Scoring and Match Rates
ATS scoring algorithms assess resumes across weighted categories. Required qualifications (licenses, certifications, degrees) typically carry the most weight, followed by skills alignment that measures how many listed requirements from the job description appear in your resume.
Experience match considers years in role, industry familiarity, and relevant job titles. Education requirements verify degree level and field of study. Many systems generate a relative match or ranking that reflects how closely your resume aligns with the role.
Aiming for 75% or higher improves your chances of landing in the recruiter's review queue, as many hiring managers sort by score and work down from the top. You don't need 100% alignment, but crossing that 75% threshold moves you from the middle of the pile to serious consideration territory.
AI Integration in Applicant Tracking Systems
ATS Tracking for Job Seekers (Testing Your Resume)
Free vs. Paid Applicant Tracking Systems
Benefits of Using an ATS for Employers
How Dover Fits into Modern ATS Hiring
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if my resume will pass an ATS scan?
Use free ATS resume checkers like Jobscan or Resume Worded to test your resume against the specific job description before applying. These tools show your compatibility score, identify missing keywords, and flag formatting issues that might prevent proper parsing.
What's the difference between free and paid applicant tracking systems?
Free ATS options like Dover include resume parsing, job board posting, candidate pipelines, team collaboration, and scheduling automation with unlimited jobs and users. Paid enterprise systems add advanced reporting dashboards, custom workflow automation, deeper HRIS integrations, and dedicated support teams for organizations processing thousands of monthly applications.
What file format works best for ATS resume submissions?
Save your resume as .docx when possible, as it parses more reliably than PDF across different systems. Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Georgia, avoid graphics and tables, and stick to a single-column layout with clear section headers like "Work Experience" and "Education."
Final thoughts on ATS technology
ATS tracking systems aren’t a barrier; they’re the operating system behind modern hiring. When job seekers understand how resumes are parsed, scored, and ranked, they stop guessing and start getting interviews. And when companies adopt smarter ATS technology, they hire faster, reduce bias, and scale without chaos. Platforms like Dover reflect where recruiting is headed: AI-driven screening, simplified workflows, and tools that work equally well for candidates and hiring teams. The edge no longer comes from applying more; it comes from knowing how the system works and using it to your advantage.
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