Beat the Bots: How to Write an ATS-Friendly, AI-Proof Resume

Updated October 15, 2025

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What You’ll Learn in This Guide

• The difference between ATS-friendly and AI-proof resumes—and why both matter
• How to format your resume to pass automated screeners without losing human appeal
• Strategies to naturally integrate job description keywords for better searchability
• How to optimize your LinkedIn profile to align with your resume and boost credibility
• Insights from hiring experts Jax Scott and Sophie Goodwin on using AI responsibly in recruitment
• Common resume mistakes that could cause you to get filtered out even if you're qualified

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Rethinking Your Resume for the AI Era

The traditional resume, with its neat rows of bullet points and chronological history, is undergoing a transformation. As technology reshapes the hiring process, it’s time to rethink how you present yourself to potential employers.

Gone are the days of wading through piles of resumes by hand. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) now scan applications using keywords and formatting algorithms to filter candidates. That means your resume needs to be optimized for machine readability while still compelling to human readers.

This guide will help you build a resume that gets noticed—by both bots and recruiters—and show you how to take your career to the next level with training that gives your resume real impact.

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Why ATS-Friendly Resumes Matter

In a recent ACI Learning webinar, Unlock the Algorithm: How to Build a Tech Resume That Gets Noticed, Alison Ayers, Career Services Instructor for the ACI Learning Tech Academy, and edutainer Lauren Deal shared best practices for crafting effective resumes.

Ayers emphasized the importance of ATS optimization, noting that:

• Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies and 66% of large companies use ATS in their hiring processes.
• There are more than 200 types of ATS, each with unique scanning rules.

An ATS-friendly resume ensures your application makes it past these systems—and in front of human decision-makers.

💡 Want your resume to stand out in tech hiring? Learn the skills that help your resume shine in any ATS. Explore ACI Learning Tech Academy programs designed to help you build certification-backed experience.

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How to Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly and AI-Proof

To build an effective ATS-optimized and AI-proof resume:

• Use simple, consistent formatting. Avoid graphics, images, tables, or columns.
• Stick to standard section headers like “Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.”
• Avoid collapsible sections or creative layouts that ATS might not recognize.
• Choose easy-to-read sans-serif fonts like Arial or Calibri, at a readable size.
• Save your resume as a PDF to maintain layout consistency.
• Incorporate keywords from the job description naturally.
• Spell out acronyms the first time you use them (e.g., Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)).
• Proofread thoroughly using tools like Grammarly to eliminate errors.

An AI-proof resume goes a step further—it’s built to work with intelligent screening systems while still impressing real hiring managers.

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Considerations from the Employer Side

Beyond ATS, many companies are now using AI to enhance their hiring processes. In a recent ACI Learning interview, edutainer Sophie Goodwin and Jax Scott, founder of Outpost Gray, explored how business leaders can integrate AI responsibly.

Scott shared several insights:

• Faster screening: AI tools can speed up resume review by 75–100%.
• Entry-level targeting: AI helps identify specific skill matches for early-career roles.

However, she also noted that weakly customized resumes often lack the right keywords, leading to rejections—even for qualified applicants. Her recommendations include:

• Tailor each resume to the job’s required skills and tools.
• Audit rejected resumes to detect potential algorithmic bias.
• Keep humans involved in the review process to maintain fairness.

“AI can improve efficiency, but it should never replace human oversight,” Scott emphasized. “The human element must remain central to hiring.”

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Beyond the Resume

Strengthen Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile shouldn’t be an afterthought—it’s often the first place a recruiter checks after reviewing your resume.

Make sure your job titles, dates, and achievements are consistent across both platforms. Use your summary section to inject personality, highlight your strengths, and naturally weave in industry-relevant keywords.

For more guidance, check out The Ultimate 30-60-90 Day Plan for Launching Your IT Career.

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Use Keywords with Purpose

Avoid keyword stuffing. Instead, align your wording with the specific role you’re targeting:

• Identify key terms related to skills, tools, certifications, and responsibilities from the job description.
• Use those terms naturally in your experience and skills sections.
• Ensure honesty—your LinkedIn profile and resume should tell the same story.

Need help figuring out what skills to emphasize? Explore Cybersecurity Basics: The First 3 Skills for Beginners for practical guidance.

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Your Digital Presence

An ATS-friendly, AI-proof resume is only one part of your digital footprint. Recruiters will also look at your online presence:

• Keep job titles, dates, and skills consistent across platforms.
• Highlight endorsements, projects, and measurable achievements.
• Expand on accomplishments that won’t fit into a one-page resume.

To make your profile even stronger, consider upskilling with in-demand IT and cybersecurity certifications. Check out AI Training in IT: The Skills You Need for the Future.

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Conclusion

Creating an ATS-friendly, AI-proof resume is essential in today’s digital hiring landscape. By focusing on clear formatting, relevant keywords, and simplicity, you can ensure your resume is both machine-readable and human-friendly.

But remember—a great resume only gets you in the door. The right skills get you hired.

At ACI Learning Tech Academy, we help learners build those skills with hands-on, instructor-led training and certification programs that make your resume stand out for all the right reasons.

Ready to upgrade your skills and boost your career confidence?
👉 Explore ACI Learning Tech Academy

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Additional Resources from ACI Learning

• Webinar – Unlock the Algorithm: How to Build a Tech Resume That Gets Noticed
• Blog – The Ultimate 30-60-90 Day Plan for Launching Your IT Career
• Blog – Cybersecurity Basics: The First 3 Skills for Beginners
• Blog – AI Training in IT: The Skills You Need for the Future

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