The hiring terms you need to know.

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Software that automatically filters and ranks job applications before a human recruiter sees them.

ATS Score

A numerical rating that an ATS assigns to your resume based on how well it matches a specific job description.

ATS-Friendly Formatting

A resume layout and structure designed to be correctly parsed and scored by Applicant Tracking Systems.

Job-First Approach

A resume-building method where the job description drives the content — rather than filling in a blank template.

Keyword Matching

The method ATS uses to score your resume by comparing its language to the exact terms in a job description.

Keyword Stuffing

The practice of forcing keywords into a resume unnaturally, in an attempt to game ATS scoring — which backfires with both automated systems and human readers.

Resume Builder

An online tool that helps users create a resume, typically by providing templates and formatting — but not content tailored to a specific job.

Resume Parsing

The process by which an ATS extracts and structures the information from your resume file.

Resume Tailoring

The process of customizing your resume's content and language to match a specific job description, rather than submitting a generic document.