Step-by-step guide to crafting ATS-friendly resumes for engineers

Engineers face a unique hiring landscape: technical depth, project impact, and precise terminology matter more than ever. Yet most hiring managers still rely on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter thousands of applications before a human ever sees a resume. This guide walks you through a complete, data‑driven process to create an ATS‑friendly resume that still showcases your engineering brilliance.

Why ATS matters for engineers

• Stat: According to a 2023 Jobscan report, 75% of resumes are rejected before reaching a recruiter because they fail ATS parsing.
• Engineers often use jargon, acronyms, and project‑specific metrics that ATS may misinterpret. A well‑structured resume bridges that gap.
• An ATS‑friendly resume improves visibility, ranking, and interview chances across platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and company career portals.

Bottom line: If your resume can’t get past the software, your technical achievements never get a chance to shine.

1. Research the right keywords (the foundation)

1.1 Pull job descriptions

1. Search for 5–7 recent engineering job postings that match your target role (e.g., Senior Mechanical Engineer, DevOps Engineer).
2. Copy the responsibilities and required skills sections into a spreadsheet.
3. Highlight recurring terms – these are your primary keywords.

1.2 Use Resumly’s free tools

• Run the Job Search Keywords tool to discover high‑impact terms.
• Validate your list with the ATS Resume Checker – it flags missing or overused keywords.

1.3 Prioritize and categorize

Tip: Place the most important keywords in the Professional Summary and Core Competencies sections where ATS gives them the highest weight.

2. Choose the right resume format for ATS

Recommendation: Stick with a reverse‑chronological layout unless you have a compelling reason to deviate. It aligns with how ATS parses dates and headings.

3. Build the skeleton (headings & sections)

1. Header – Name, phone, email, LinkedIn (optional: GitHub). Use a simple font like Arial or Calibri, 10‑12 pt.
2. Professional Summary – 2‑3 sentences, keyword‑rich, quantifiable impact.
3. Core Competencies – Bullet list of 8‑12 top keywords.
4. Professional Experience – Reverse‑chronological, each entry with:
   • Job title, company, location, dates (MM/YYYY).
   • 3‑5 bullet points starting with strong action verbs and metrics.
5. Education – Degree, institution, graduation year, relevant coursework.
6. Certifications & Licenses – Include expiration dates if applicable.
7. Projects (optional) – For early‑career engineers; use the same bullet‑point style.
8. Technical Skills – Separate table or list; avoid paragraphs.

Do: Use standard headings (e.g., Professional Experience). Don’t: Invent creative headings like My Journey – ATS may not recognize them.

4. Write compelling, ATS‑optimized bullet points

4.1 The STAR formula (Situation, Task, Action, Result)

**Action verb** + **what you did** + **how you did it** + **quantifiable result**

Example (poor):

• Designed a new cooling system.

Example (ATS‑friendly):

• Engineered a liquid‑cooling system that reduced thermal resistance by 22%, saving $150K in annual energy costs for a 500‑kW data center.

4.2 Keyword placement

• Begin each bullet with a keyword‑rich action verb (e.g., Implemented, Optimized, Automated).
• Sprinkle technical keywords naturally; avoid keyword stuffing.

4.3 Quantify everything

5. Formatting tricks that keep ATS happy

• File type: Upload as .docx or PDF (ATS‑compatible) – most modern ATS can read both, but .docx is safest.
• Margins: 0.5‑1 in all sides.
• Font: Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, or Times New Roman.
• Bullet style: Use simple solid circles or hyphens; avoid fancy icons.
• Avoid: Tables, text boxes, graphics, headers/footers, and columns – many ATS strip these out.
• Line spacing: 1.0‑1.15 for readability.

6. Run a final ATS check

1. Paste your resume into the ATS Resume Checker.
2. Review the Score, Missing Keywords, and Formatting Issues.
3. Iterate until you hit ≥ 90% match.
4. Run the Resume Readability Test to ensure a Flesch‑Kincaid Grade ≤ 12 – recruiters prefer concise language.

7. Leverage Resumly’s AI tools for the finishing touches

• AI Resume Builder: Generate a polished draft in minutes and customize it with your data – perfect for busy engineers. (Explore)
• Buzzword Detector: Remove overused buzzwords that can trigger ATS filters. (Try it)
• Cover Letter Generator: Pair your resume with a targeted cover letter that mirrors the same keywords. (Learn more)
• Job Match: Get a list of openings that align with your optimized resume. (See matches)

8. Checklist: Is your engineer resume ATS‑ready?

• File format is .docx or ATS‑compatible PDF.
• Header contains name, phone, email, LinkedIn.
• Professional Summary includes 3‑4 primary keywords.
• Core Competencies list matches top keywords from job ads.
• Each experience bullet follows the STAR formula and includes at least one metric.
• No tables, graphics, or columns.
• All dates are in MM/YYYY format.
• Resume passes the ATS Resume Checker with ≥ 90% score.
• Readability score is ≤ 12th‑grade level.
• Keywords are evenly distributed (no stuffing).

9. Mini‑case study: From rejected to interview‑ready

Background: Alex, a mid‑level Mechanical Engineer, applied to 12 positions with a traditional resume and received zero callbacks.

Action: Alex used Resumly’s AI Resume Builder, incorporated the top 15 keywords from the ATS Resume Checker, and rewrote his bullet points using the STAR method.

Result: After the overhaul, Alex’s ATS score rose from 58% → 94%. Within two weeks, he secured 3 interview invitations and landed a senior role at a Fortune 500 company.

Takeaway: A systematic, keyword‑focused rewrite can dramatically improve interview rates.

10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Do I need to customize my resume for every job?

• A: Yes. Tailor the Professional Summary and Core Competencies to the specific posting. Use Resumly’s Job Search Keywords tool to quickly extract relevant terms.

Q2: Can I include a photo on my engineering resume?

• A: Generally no for ATS‑friendly resumes. Photos can cause parsing errors and may be filtered out by bias‑mitigation algorithms.

Q3: How many pages should an engineer resume be?

• A: Keep it to one page if you have ≤ 5 years experience; two pages is acceptable for senior engineers with extensive project histories.

Q4: Are ATS‑friendly resumes less creative?

• A: Not at all. Focus on clarity and structure; you can still showcase creativity in project descriptions and quantifiable outcomes.

Q5: What if the ATS flags a keyword as a buzzword?

• A: Use the Buzzword Detector to replace generic terms with concrete, measurable language.

Q6: Should I list every programming language I know?

• A: List only those relevant to the target role. Over‑listing dilutes keyword relevance.

Q7: How often should I update my resume?

• A: After each major project, certification, or role change. Regular updates keep your ATS score high.

Q8: Does Resumly help with interview preparation?

• A: Absolutely. The Interview Practice feature offers mock questions tailored to engineering roles.

11. Final thoughts on crafting ATS‑friendly resumes for engineers

Creating an ATS‑friendly resume is not a one‑size‑fits‑all task; it requires research, precise formatting, and continuous iteration. By following this step‑by‑step guide, leveraging Resumly’s AI‑powered tools, and adhering to the checklist, you’ll transform a static document into a search‑engine‑optimized career asset that gets noticed by both machines and hiring managers.

Ready to supercharge your engineering job hunt? Visit the Resumly homepage to start building your next‑generation resume today.