What Is an ATS—and Why Should Federal Employees Care?
Spoiler: If you’re applying to corporate jobs, your first reader probably isn’t human. It’s software—and it doesn’t care about anything but keywords.
What Is an ATS?
ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It’s software that scans, ranks, and filters resumes before a human ever sees them.
Most companies—from small businesses to global giants—use ATS software to manage job applications. It helps recruiters deal with high volumes of candidates and surface the most relevant ones quickly.
The good news? You can write a resume that performs well in these systems and resonates with a real hiring manager.
But first, you need to understand how they work.
Why Should Federal Employees Pay Attention?
Because the rules are different.
Federal resumes are often full of narrative, context, and detail. ATS resumes? They need to be keyword-rich, cleanly formatted, and easy to parse. That means:
No columns or tables that might confuse the system
No unnecessary formatting or graphics, unless you’ve studied and tested these techniques and know what translates (check with a seasoned resume writer!)
Strategic use of keywords that match the job description and company culture
If you’re copying and pasting your federal resume into corporate applications, you may be invisible to the system—and the person reviewing it.
This Doesn’t Mean “Dumb It Down.”
Let’s be clear: Optimizing for an ATS doesn’t mean stripping out the power of your experience.
It means structuring your content to get through the system—and then making sure it actually speaks to a human.
✔️ Use clear job titles that reflect the role
✔️ Add keywords that match the job posting (but don’t keyword-stuff!)
✔️ Show results and leadership—not just responsibilities
Remember: You’re still writing for real people. You’re just making sure your resume doesn’t get filtered out before they ever see it.
Yes, We’ll Go Deeper.
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about how ATS systems work—and don’t work. (We’ll talk more about that soon. Get ready for some myth-busting.)
But for now, here’s what matters:
If your resume isn’t getting seen, it’s not getting traction.
And if you’re not formatting it for both the algorithm and the audience, you’re missing your shot.
Final Word: Don’t Let the Software Stop You.
An ATS is just a filter. Your job is to beat it—then impress the person behind it.
Need help creating a resume that gets through the system and makes a real impression?
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