What is ATS and How to Beat It in the Australian Job Market

You've spent hours crafting the perfect resume. You hit submit. And then — nothing. No response, no rejection, just silence. In many cases, the culprit isn't the hiring manager. It's the software they never told you about: an Applicant Tracking System, or ATS.

What is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System is software that employers use to receive, store, and filter job applications. When you apply for a role online — through SEEK, LinkedIn, Indeed, or a company's careers portal — your resume is almost always processed by an ATS before a human reviews it.

The ATS parses your resume, extracts information like your contact details, work history, and skills, then scores it against the job description. Resumes that don't reach a minimum threshold score are automatically filtered out. Studies suggest that up to 75% of resumes are rejected at this stage.

Which ATS systems are common in Australia?

The most widely used ATS platforms in Australia include Workday, PageUp (heavily used across Australian universities and government), SmartRecruiters, Greenhouse, Lever, and JobAdder. Large employers — banks, government agencies, retailers, healthcare networks — almost universally use one of these systems.

How the ATS scores your resume

• Keyword matching: Does your resume contain the skills, tools, and role titles mentioned in the job ad?
• Section recognition: Can the ATS correctly identify your work experience, education, and skills sections?
• Recency: How recent is your relevant experience?
• Titles: Do your past job titles match or closely resemble the role being hired for?
• Qualifications: If the role requires a specific degree or certification, does your resume mention it?

Common resume mistakes that fail ATS

1. Using tables, columns, text boxes, or graphics — many ATS cannot parse these correctly
2. Submitting a PDF when the employer's system prefers .docx (and vice versa)
3. Using creative section headings like "Where I've Been" instead of "Work Experience"
4. Spelling out acronyms without also including the abbreviated form (e.g., writing "Certified Public Accountant" but not "CPA")
5. Storing contact details in the header or footer of a Word document — these are often invisible to ATS parsers
6. Using images to represent skills or experience

How to optimise your resume for ATS

Use a clean, single-column layout

Resist the temptation to use a visually complex template. A clean, single-column document with clear headings is what ATS parsers handle best. You can still look professional — clean does not mean boring.

Mirror the job description's language

If the job ad says "stakeholder management", use that exact phrase — not "stakeholder engagement" or "relationship management". ATS systems match on exact or near-exact keywords. Read the ad carefully and reflect its language throughout your resume.

Include both the full term and the acronym

Write "Customer Relationship Management (CRM)" the first time you mention it. This ensures you match whether the ATS searches for the full phrase or the abbreviation.

Add a dedicated Skills section

A standalone skills list makes keyword extraction easy for the ATS. Include both hard skills (specific tools, software, methodologies) and relevant soft skills mentioned in the job ad.

The ATS score is a floor, not a ceiling

Beating the ATS gets your resume in front of a human — but it doesn't get you the job. Once you pass the automated filter, the hiring manager needs to be genuinely impressed. That means your resume also needs to be clear, compelling, and concise. Think of ATS optimisation as the minimum bar, not the finish line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all Australian employers use ATS?

Most medium to large employers do — including government agencies, ASX-listed companies, major banks, hospitals, and universities. Small businesses and direct email applications to named contacts are less likely to use one, but if you're applying through an online portal, assume an ATS is involved.

Does SEEK use ATS to screen applications?

SEEK itself does not screen your resume, but most employers who advertise on SEEK use their own ATS once applications come in. Your resume goes into the employer's system before a recruiter ever reads it.

What is a good ATS score for a resume?

A match score of 70% or above generally indicates a strong chance of passing initial screening. Below 60% means your keywords and content aren't closely enough aligned with the job description to compete reliably.

Can ATS read a PDF resume?

Yes, modern ATS systems can read most PDF resumes. Text-only PDFs perform best — avoid PDFs built from complex graphics, columns, or text embedded in images, as these can confuse the parser and cause your details to be missed.

Will ATS reject my resume for missing keywords?

Yes — if your resume lacks enough of the keywords the ATS is scanning for, it will be ranked lower and may never reach a human recruiter. Mirror the exact language of the job description and include both full terms and their abbreviations to maximise your match score.

Use an ATS scanner before you apply

ProfessionalResume.au's ATS Scanner analyses your resume against a specific job description and gives you an instant match score, a keyword gap analysis, and prioritised recommendations. Run your resume through it before every application and you'll consistently pass where other candidates don't.