How ATS Resume Checkers Parse Resume Sections

What Is an ATS and Why Does It Matter?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by recruiters and HR departments to streamline the hiring process. ATS systems automatically collect, scan, and rank resumes submitted for job openings. The software searches resumes for keywords, relevant experience, skills, and qualifications to create a shortlist of candidates for human review. Because 90% of Fortune 500 companies and many more organizations use ATS, understanding how they process resumes is essential for job seekers.

Read our in-depth Complete Guide to ATS Resume Checkers to learn how to test and improve your resume for ATS compatibility.

The Basics of Resume Parsing Technology

How ATS Resume Checkers Extract Information

ATS resume checkers rely on parsing technology to extract data from uploaded resumes. The parsing process breaks down the resume document into recognizable sections like contact information, work experience, education, and skills. The system uses algorithms and pattern recognition to detect section headers and associated content.

Most ATS parsing engines analyze:

• Text formatting: Fonts, bold/italic text, bullet points
• Section headings: “Work Experience”, “Education”, “Skills”
• Keywords: Job-specific skills and qualifications
• Dates and locations: Employment periods and company/college locations

However, parsing accuracy can fluctuate significantly depending on resume formatting, file type (commonly .docx or .pdf), and clarity of section labels.

How ATS Parses Core Resume Sections

Contact Information

Contact details are essential for recruiters to reach candidates. ATS systems look for key contact elements such as:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Email address
• LinkedIn or professional website links (optional)

ATS expect contact info to be placed at the top of the resume and in a straightforward format. Including this information in headers or footers can sometimes confuse parsers, causing them to miss vital contact details.

Professional Summary or Objective

The professional summary or objective section at the beginning provides a snapshot of your qualifications. ATS resume checkers identify this section through headings like “Summary,” “Professional Summary,” or “Career Objective.”

Though some ATS give less weight to this section in keyword ranking, a well-crafted summary with relevant keywords helps improve overall parsing relevance.

Work Experience

This is the most critical section for ATS parsing engines. They look for:

• Company name
• Job title
• Dates of employment
• Location
• Bulleted descriptions of duties and accomplishments

Clear and consistent formatting of dates (e.g., “Jan 2026 – Dec 2026”) and bullet points improve parsing accuracy. Misplaced information or unconventional formatting can cause ATS to misinterpret or skip this section entirely.

Education

ATS software looks for educational qualifications by detecting headings such as “Education,” “Academic Background,” or “Qualifications.” The system extracts:

• Institution name
• Degree earned
• Graduation date or years attended
• Relevant certifications

Ensure this section is clearly labeled and follows a simple format to be correctly recognized.

Skills

The skills section is pivotal in passing ATS keyword filters. ATS checkers search for standalone keywords or skill clusters under headings like “Skills,” “Technical Skills,” or “Core Competencies.”

Many systems prefer bulleted lists or comma-separated skills to be easily extracted. Combining hard skills (e.g., “JavaScript,” “Project Management”) with relevant soft skills improves keyword matching with job descriptions.

Certifications & Awards

Certifications and awards add value but are sometimes omitted from ATS parsing if included as part of other sections or buried without clear labels. Designate a separate, clearly titled section for these details to enhance parsing.

Technical Factors Affecting How ATS Parses Resume Sections

File Formats and Their Impact

File type plays a vital role in parsing accuracy. The most ATS-friendly formats are:

• .docx (Microsoft Word): Highly compatible; preserves section headers and formatting.
• .PDF: Some ATS systems can parse PDFs if they are text-based and not image scans. However, parsing results may vary.

Avoid formats like JPG, PNG, or image-based PDFs, as most ATS cannot extract text from these.

Use of Standard Section Headings

ATS rely heavily on detecting standard section headers to segment resume content. Using unconventional or creative headings like “Where I’ve Been” instead of “Work Experience” can cause the ATS to miscategorize information or overlook it.

Simple, Consistent Formatting

Tables, text boxes, columns, and graphics can confuse ATS parsers and lead to missing or jumbled data extraction. Consistent use of standard bullet points, clear spacing, and plain text improves reading accuracy.

Best Practices to Optimize Each Resume Section for ATS

Contact Information Tips

• Place your name and contact details at the top, left-aligned
• Avoid headers/footers or embedding contact info in graphics
• Use a professional email address and include a direct phone number

Professional Summary Guidelines

• Include keywords relevant to the job description
• Keep it brief and focused on your unique value proposition
• Use simple language, avoiding complex formatting

Work Experience Formatting

• Use clear section headers (“Work Experience” or “Professional Experience”)
• Consistently format dates (Month Year – Month Year)
• Use bullet points to describe responsibilities and achievements
• Incorporate relevant keywords naturally

Education Section Pointers

• Label the section plainly as “Education”
• Include degree, institution, and graduation dates
• Add honors or coursework only if highly relevant

Skills Optimization

• Include a dedicated skills section with bulleted keywords
• Match skills to the job description language closely
• Separate technical and soft skills if applicable

Certifications & Awards

• Create a separate clear section with an appropriate heading
• List them chronologically or by relevance

Common ATS Parsing Issues and How to Avoid Them

Despite following best practices, sometimes ATS parsing errors occur. Avoid these common pitfalls:

• Overcomplicated formatting: Avoid tables, text boxes, graphics, and unusual fonts.
• Incorrect section headers: Use standard headings recognizable by ATS.
• Missing keywords: Customize your resume for each job to include relevant keywords.
• Using headers/footers for important information: Keep contact details in the main document body.

Testing your resume with an ATS resume checker before submitting can identify parsing issues and areas for improvement.

The Role of AI and Machine Learning in Modern ATS Parsing

As ATS technology evolves, many systems now use advanced AI and machine learning algorithms. These enhancements improve the ability to understand context, synonyms, and job relevance beyond simple keyword matching. For example, AI-powered ATS may recognize that “Java Developer” and “Software Engineer” roles are closely related, even if the exact keywords differ.

However, even the smartest ATS still rely on clear sectioning and good formatting to parse resumes accurately. Ensuring your resume structure complies with ATS parsing standards remains the foundation of optimization.

Conclusion: Mastering ATS Parsing to Boost Your Job Search Success

Understanding how ATS resume checkers parse resume sections is vital in today’s recruitment landscape. By knowing how these systems extract and interpret your resume data, you can tailor your document to meet ATS standards without sacrificing human readability.

Key takeaways to remember:

• Use simple, consistent formatting and standard section headers.
• Optimize sections—especially Work Experience and Skills—with relevant keywords.
• Choose compatible file formats like .docx or text-based PDFs.
• Test your resume using an ATS resume checker to identify parsing errors.

Following these guidelines will elevate your resume’s visibility in ATS rankings and improve your invites for interviews. For a detailed step-by-step process on how to test and refine your resume’s ATS compatibility, be sure to visit our complete guide on ATS resume checking.

Your resume gateway to recruiters starts with mastering ATS parsing — invest the effort and stand out in the automated screening process.