How to Get Your Resume Past the ATS for a Remote Job

By the SOJI editorial team · Reviewed 19 October 2026

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software that scans and ranks resumes before a human recruiter ever sees them. SHRM describes it as the backbone of recruiting technology, the core platform that stores resumes and automates routine recruiting tasks (SHRM, 2021). It's the first filter most remote applications must clear, since remote posts draw far bigger applicant pools than an office role. Getting past it is mostly about format and keyword match, not tricking the system.

Key takeaways

• Plain, single-column layouts parse well. Tables, text boxes, headers/footers and graphics often don't.
• Mirror the exact skills and words from the job post, not synonyms, since many systems match on literal text.
• Say you're remote-ready in plain words: time zone, home-office setup, past remote roles, rather than hoping a recruiter guesses it.
• Clearing the ATS only earns you a human skim. Keep the top third of page one easy to scan in ten seconds.

Format for the machine first, the human second

Most ATS software reads text top to bottom, left to right. A layout that looks clean to a person, like two columns, a skills sidebar, or an icon-based contact block, can scramble or drop information when a machine parses it. Safer defaults:

• One column, plain section titles (Experience, Education, Skills), not creative labels.
• Standard fonts. No text inside images or text boxes. No contact info in a header or footer.
• Dates and job titles as plain text, never inside a table.
• A .docx file, or a simple PDF saved from a plain layout, not a designed PDF from a graphics tool.

Match the job post's own words

Start by reading the post closely. Note the exact skills and tools it names, plus any required qualifications. Then use that same wording in your resume, wherever it's honestly true of your work. If a post says "CRM experience (HubSpot preferred)" and you've used HubSpot, write "HubSpot," not "customer relationship management software." Many systems match on the literal word, so a close synonym can score lower even when a human would treat it as the same skill.

A skills list near the top of page one, naming the tools most relevant to that one posting, helps on both sides of the filter. It gives the ATS a dense keyword match, and it gives the human reviewer who skims next something to scan fast.

Show you're remote-ready, in plain words

Don't assume remote experience is obvious. Spell it out:

• List "Remote" as the location for past roles that were remote, instead of leaving location blank.
• Name the exact remote tools you use daily, such as Slack, Zoom, Asana, Notion, or a specific VPN or security tool if the post asks for one.
• If the role names a time zone, state your own time zone and hours directly. See /blog/time-zones-and-remote-jobs-what-to-check-before-you-apply.
• Name any past remote, freelance or contract work directly, even short or part-time work.

If you're applying and hearing nothing back

A high no-response rate on remote posts is common, and it usually comes from one of a few causes. The post may be closed but still listed, so check /blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-hired-for-a-remote-job for realistic timelines. A format problem may drop your resume before a human ever opens it. Or your stated location may not match the role's rules, covered in /blog/remote-jobs-by-us-state-location-rules-and-eligibility. Before you assume the worst, re-check the post is still live against the FTC's job-scam guide if anything about it feels off (FTC, 2026), and paste your resume into a plain text editor. If the sections run together or jumble, the ATS likely saw the same mess.

Frequently asked questions

Does an ATS-beating resume template guarantee an interview?

No. Clearing the ATS only means a human will likely see your resume. The content still has to fit the role. Good format removes a false-negative risk. It doesn't replace real, relevant experience.

Should I use the exact same resume for every remote job?

No. Adjust the skills list and keywords for each post. A generic resume matches fewer of any one post's exact keywords than a resume you edited for that role.

Do cover letters get parsed by the ATS too?

Some systems parse an attached cover letter, but most weigh it far less than the resume. Treat the resume as the main filter and the cover letter as context for the human reviewer.

Limitations

ATS behavior varies by vendor and by each employer's setup. No one formatting rule works the same way in every system. This advice reflects widely repeated practitioner guidance from remote-job sites, not a controlled test of specific ATS software.

Sources and further reading

• SHRM: How to Purchase an Applicant Tracking System: what an ATS is and how employers evaluate recruiting software
• FTC: Job Scams: how to spot and avoid job scams

SOJI is an independent job board and is not affiliated with Mercor or Micro1. If you apply through our referral links and are hired, SOJI may earn a commission, at no cost to you, and this does not affect which jobs we publish. More on the about page.