Most remote applications die in software before a human ever sees them. The fixes are boring and mechanical — which is good news, because boring and mechanical is learnable in an afternoon.
Six rules that get a resume past the ATS
- Mirror the posting’s language. The tracking system matches keywords. If the role says “customer support,” your resume says “customer support” — not “client happiness.”
- Use standard headings. Experience, Skills, Education. Clever headings parse as nothing.
- No tables, columns, graphics, or text boxes in the file you upload. They scramble in parsing.
- Upload .docx or a text-based PDF — never a scan or image.
- Quantify everything you can. “Handled 60+ tickets/day at 96% satisfaction” survives a six-second skim. “Handled tickets” doesn’t.
- Tailor the top third per application. Title line, summary, first three bullets. The rest can stay stable.
The free template
The WFH Starter Kit includes the ATS-friendly resume template we recommend, plus an application tracker so follow-ups stop slipping.
Tools worth paying for
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- AI resume builder — fastest way to generate tailored versions per application.
- FlexJobs — a paid board where every listing is vetted; useful as a second stream alongside our free leads.
- Interview prep — structured practice for the questions remote roles actually ask.
Going deeper
When you’re past the basics, the Resume Pack and Interview Answer Guide are the paid versions of what this page starts.