Why your resume gets auto-rejected (and how to fix it)

If you're applying and hearing nothing back, an ATS may be filtering your resume before a human ever opens it. Here are the most common reasons — and how to fix each.

Common auto-rejection causes

• Unreadable layout — a two-column or table design the parser reorders.
• Missing keywords — the resume doesn't reflect the job's required skills.
• No machine-readable contact info — email/phone as an image or in a header.
• Non-standard section headings the ATS can't map.
• An image or scanned file with no text layer.

How to fix it

• Switch to a clean single-column layout with standard headings.
• Add the job's exact keywords where they genuinely apply.
• Keep contact details as plain text near the top.
• Export a text-based PDF, not a scan or image.
• Re-check your ATS score after each edit.

ATSBuddy gives you a deterministic ATS score and the exact priority fixes, so you can stop guessing why you're getting rejected. Scan your resume free and fix the issues before your next application.