Resume & ATS Glossary
Clear definitions of resume and ATS terminology. Understand the concepts that determine whether your resume gets seen.
ATS Score
An ATS score is a numerical rating that represents how well a resume matches a specific job description based on keyword alignment, formatting compliance, and content completeness. Most ATS systems rank resumes by relevance to help recruiters prioritize candidates.
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
An Applicant Tracking System is software used by employers to collect, scan, sort, and rank job applications. Common ATS platforms include Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS, and Taleo. They parse resume text, extract structured data, and match candidates to job requirements.
Resume Keywords
Resume keywords are specific terms, phrases, skills, and qualifications that ATS systems and recruiters use to filter and evaluate candidates. They typically come directly from the job description and include hard skills, soft skills, certifications, tools, and industry terminology.
Resume Tailoring
Resume tailoring is the practice of customizing your resume for each specific job application by aligning your experience, skills, and keywords with the job description requirements. It goes beyond a generic resume to match the employer's exact needs.
Resume Parsing
Resume parsing is the automated extraction of structured data (name, contact info, work history, skills, education) from unstructured resume documents. ATS systems parse resumes to populate candidate profiles and enable keyword searching.
Resume Formatting
Resume formatting refers to the visual layout, structure, and design choices in a resume document. ATS-safe formatting uses standard fonts, single-column layouts, clearly labeled sections, and avoids tables, text boxes, images, and headers/footers.
Resume Bullet Points
Resume bullet points are concise, achievement-focused statements under each work experience entry. Effective bullets follow the format: Action Verb + Task/Context + Quantified Result. They should be 1-2 lines long and start with a strong action verb.
Cover Letter
A cover letter is a one-page document sent alongside your resume that introduces you to the employer, explains your interest in the role, and highlights how your experience aligns with the job requirements.