ATS Resume — The 5 Checks You Need in 2025

The essential ATS checks for resumes in 2025, with a practical checklist and links.

ATS Resume: The 5 Checks You Need in 2025

TL;DR

Most rejections happen before a human sees your resume. These five ATS checks—clean structure, scannable headings, keyword alignment, file compatibility, and consistent formatting—make the difference. Vitae helps you run these checks and tailor to any JD in minutes. $1/mo (1 profile) or $3/mo (5 profiles). Free for the first 20 users.

Table of Contents

  • Why ATS matters in 2025
  • The Five Checks
  • Quick Checklist
  • FAQ
  • Resources

The Five Checks

  1. Structure: consistent sections, simple layouts
  2. Headings: standard labels (Experience, Education, Skills)
  3. Keywords: mirror the JD naturally
  4. File: PDF/DOCX compatible; avoid images-as-text
  5. Formatting: bullet spacing, dates, and alignment

Quick Checklist

Check Pass?
Standard headings ☐
Keywords present ☐
Clean bullets ☐
Export format valid ☐
Contact info parsable ☐

Internal Links

FAQ

  1. Does ATS hate graphics? Excessive graphics can fail parsing; keep it simple.
  2. Should I submit PDF or DOCX? Check JD/portal; Vitae exports both.
  3. How do I add keywords? Use the JD-tailoring flow.
  4. Pricing? $1/$3; free for first 20 users.

Resources

  • U.S. DOL Job Descriptions (https://www.onetonline.org/)
  • SHRM Resume Guidelines (https://www.shrm.org/)
  • NACE Career Readiness (https://www.naceweb.org/)

CTA

Try Vitae (MVP) — $1/mo (1 profile) · $3/mo (5 profiles). Free for the first 20 users. Cancel anytime.

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Author: Vitae Editorial — Resume & ATS Specialists

title: ATS Resume — The 5 Checks You Need in 2025 (With Templates and Examples) description: Make your resume ATS‑safe with five checks: structure, headings, keywords, file, and formatting. Includes checklist and sources. slug: blog/ats-resume-5-checks-2025 date: 2025-09-18 lastmod: 2025-09-18 author: SEO-God Writer (Vitae) tags: [ats resume, resume builder, resume formatting, job search 2025] og_title: ATS Resume — 5 Checks for 2025 og_description: Practical checklist to pass ATS and get seen by recruiters. twitter_card: summary_large_image

ATS Resume: The 5 Checks You Need in 2025

Verdict: Most rejections happen before a human looks. Pass ATS with five checks and tailor to the JD in minutes. Vitae helps you do both quickly—$1/$3 pricing, free for the first 20 users.

  • Who it’s for: job seekers who want reliable ATS parsing and fast JD tailoring.
  • Who it’s not for: heavy multi‑column, graphic‑first layouts.

Try Vitae — Free for first 20 users · Pricing · FAQ

Table of contents

  • Quick checklist
  • The five checks
  • Methodology
  • Comparison grid
  • Alternatives
  • FAQ
  • Sources
  • Final verdict

Quick checklist

Check Pass?
Standard headings (Summary, Experience, Education, Skills) ☐
Single‑column, text‑first layout ☐
JD keywords mirrored naturally ☐
Export format (PDF/DOCX) valid ☐
Consistent dates and clean bullets ☐

The five checks (2025)

  1. Structure: single‑column, text‑first; avoid text in images.
  2. Headings: use standard section names so parsers recognize them.
  3. Keywords: mirror the JD, but keep sentences human and honest.
  4. File/type: export PDF or DOCX as the portal requests.
  5. Formatting: consistent bullets, dates, spacing, and link hygiene.

Vitae enforces ATS‑first defaults and suggests JD‑aligned bullet rewrites in minutes.

Methodology (how we evaluate)

  • Parsed multiple resumes with known ATS rulesets
  • Compared single vs multi‑column outcomes
  • Timed JD tailoring from paste → export
  • Checked pricing transparency and export rules

Comparison grid (top tools, summarized)

Tool Pricing (indicative) ATS focus JD tailoring Download rules
Vitae $1/$3, free cohort Default Guided, minutes PDF/DOCX/MD
Zety ~$15–$25/mo Mixed Guided/manual Tiered paywalls
Canva N/A Low (design‑first) Manual PDF; check parsing
Jobscan Varies High (scan only) N/A Reports export

Internal links: see detailed comparisons — /compare/zety-vs-vitae · migrations — /migrate/zety-to-vitae

Alternatives (best for…)

  • Canva — design‑first resumes (validate ATS).
  • Jobscan — dedicated ATS keyword check.
  • Rezi / Teal — keywording + role targeting (pair with builder).
  • ResumeGenius / Enhancv / Kickresume — more templates, varied ATS results.

FAQ

  1. What’s the fastest way to tailor? Paste JD → accept Vitae’s suggestions.
  2. Ideal length? Usually 1 page mid‑career; 2 pages senior/academic.
  3. Can I export DOCX and PDF? Yes.
  4. Will fancy icons hurt? Often—prefer text bullets.
  5. Non‑native English help? Yes—tone and clarity helpers.
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    {"@type":"Question","name":"Do icons hurt ATS?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"They can—prefer text-based bullets and standard headings."}}
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Sources

  1. University career centers’ resume formatting guidance
  2. Government career portals on ATS behaviors
  3. Industry comparisons on single vs multi‑column parsing

Final verdict

ATS success comes from structure and clarity. Use the five checks and tailor per JD—Vitae makes it fast and ATS‑safe with transparent $1/$3 pricing.

Try Vitae (MVP) — Free for first 20 users · $1/mo (1) · $3/mo (5) · Cancel anytime

ATS Resume — The 5 Checks You Need in 2025