Free sample: 5 of the 20 checks
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is the software many employers use to collect and search applications. There are many ATS products and they change often, so these checks are commonly recommended practices, not claims about how any one system works.
| # | Check | Why it matters | How to fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | File is .docx or a text-based PDF, unless the posting asks for something else | These two formats are the most commonly recommended for uploads. Some systems may handle other formats (.pages, .odt, image files) poorly or reject them. | Follow the posting's instructions first. If it says nothing, export a .docx from your editor, or save as PDF with "Save as PDF" or "Export" rather than "Print to image". |
| 3 | The plain-text test passes | Copying everything into a plain-text editor shows roughly what a parser has to work with: reading order, missing text, garbled characters. | Select all in the PDF or .docx, paste into Notepad or TextEdit (plain-text mode), and read it top to bottom. Fix anything that is missing, out of order or scrambled. |
| 4 | Section headings use standard names | Commonly recommended because software and recruiters look for familiar labels. Creative names like "My Journey" or "Toolbox" may not be recognized as sections. | Use headings such as Summary, Experience (or Work Experience), Education, Skills, Certifications and Projects. |
| 5 | No tables, columns or text boxes hold key information | Multi-column layouts and text boxes are commonly reported to come out of parsers in the wrong order or not at all. | Use a single-column layout. Move skills or other sidebar content into a normal section. Use tabs or simple line breaks, not table cells, for alignment. |
| 12 | Keywords from the job description appear where they are true for you | Recruiters commonly search candidate databases for skills, tools and certifications. Matching the posting's wording, when it is accurate for you, helps you show up and shows a clear fit. | List the hard skills, tools and qualifications in the posting. For each one you really have, use the posting's exact wording at least once, ideally inside an experience bullet that shows how you used it. |
Rows taken from the full checklist. The other 15 cover headers and footers, images and icons, contact details, dates, job titles, keyword stuffing, acronyms, fonts, special characters, file names, tailoring, length and a final proofread.
What's in the full kit
Tech Layoff Job-Search Kit: Resume Prompts, ATS Checklist, Follow-Up Emails. Price: USD 12. Four Markdown files:
- 20-point ATS checklist: every check with why it matters and how to fix it, plus a two-minute plain-text test.
- 15 resume rewrite prompts: copy-paste prompts to use with your own AI tool, each with a "when to use it" note and a fictional before/after example.
- 12 follow-up and networking email templates: referral asks, thank-you notes, rejection replies and a negotiation opener.
- START-HERE guide: orientation, a 3-day action plan and the full disclosures.
Delivery: instant download of 4 Markdown (.md) files through Gumroad after purchase. Markdown opens in any text editor. Nothing is shipped.
Refund policy: full refund within 14 days of purchase, on request, no questions asked. Reply to your Gumroad receipt email to ask.
Free guides
Two free pages with material taken from the kit. No sign-up needed.
- ATS resume checklist after a tech layoff: 5 checks to run first. The five sample checks explained in full: what to check, why it matters and how to fix it.
- Follow-up emails after a tech layoff: 2 templates you can copy. A thank-you note after an interview and a referral ask to a former colleague, with when to send each one and what to customize.
Please note
- AI-assisted. This kit was drafted with AI assistance and checked by an automated process. It was not written by a career coach, recruiter or lawyer.
- Not advice. The kit is general information, not professional career, legal or employment advice. It does not guarantee interviews, job offers or any other outcome.
- Use the prompts with your own AI tool, carefully. The resume prompts are meant for an AI tool you choose. Don't enter sensitive personal data (such as ID numbers, home address or salary history) into third-party AI services. Check every output for accuracy, and never claim experience, titles or skills you don't have.
- No affiliate links. Neither this page nor the kit contains affiliate links.