With 75% of resumes getting filtered out by ATS before a recruiter even sees them, people are looking for resume builders for help. These tools will give you a promising structured resume so that it passes the system. But do they actually work?

Some might get good layouts, while others strip resumes down too much. All these things would only make it look plain and unimpressive. So, the real question is: Can a resume builder get your application noticed?

Let's spill the beans on popular ATS myths, check formatting issues, and more.

Do Resume Builders Beat ATS?

ATS is ruthless. Why are we saying this? That's because it scans, filters, and sometimes tosses resumes before HR would notice them. So, do resume builders help, or are they just another overhyped tool?

How Resume Builders Help You Win?

1. Right Format = Higher Chance of Selection

ATS-friendly formats will increase readability and prevent rejection that might occur due to creative designs or complex layouts.

Builders that stick to structured layouts (without tables, graphics, or columns) have a much better shot.

2. Add Best Keywords (Without Overstuffing)

The right words matter for anyone who wants to get a job after filling in only a few job applications. Resume builders will help you by suggesting terms related to job descriptions.

Overloading keywords can backfire. So, get a smart resume builder to balance it well.

3. Formatting Glitches

ATS hates PDF parsing issues, images, and multi-column designs. Some builders automatically convert resumes into machine-readable text, creating better spacing and alignment.

4. Fonts & Headings

Don't use italics or any hard-to-read fonts. ATS might not recognize them.

Good resume builders stick to classic fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman while keeping headings recognizable by ATS.

5. Section Arrangement

They add experience, education, and skills at places ATS expects them to be.

Some resume builders automatically adjust section placements for better scanning.

Where Does Resume Builders Struggle?

1. Overloaded Designs = Instant Rejection

If a builder adds excessive styling, icons, or sections, ATS might not parse it correctly.

Stick to minimalism for online applications.

2. Not All Builders Are ATS-Tested

Some builders make creative resumes, but not all are ATS-compatible.

Always test your resume through an ATS checker before submitting it.

3. Use of Generic Content

Many resume builders suggest cliché bullet points that hiring managers have seen a million times.

Where Does Resume Builders Struggle?

The Biggest Myths About ATS Filtering

There's a lot of confusion around Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Some say they reject resumes based on formatting alone, while others believe stuffing keywords can guarantee a top rank. But what's the truth? What should you believe?

Let's bust the biggest myths about ATS filtering so you don't fall for bad advice.

1. "ATS Automatically Rejects Qualified Candidates"

This is one of the biggest misconceptions. ATS doesn't outright "reject" resumes, it ranks them as per the relevance of your profile with the job description. You might have seen many companies looking for 3 years of experience or more. But do they get applications from people who have worked for the same years? Well, no! Many of them have less than the mentioned work experience and still apply to get a chance.

Will ATS discard them? It might, but some ATS add them to the lowest ranks of the whole candidate list.

Fact: Hiring managers can still review lower-ranked resumes if they choose to. However, they will only select if the candidate has a good profile and the work experience doesn't matter too much.

2. "Stuff Keywords As Many As You Can"

A resume with keywords looks unnatural and can lower your chances of getting selected. But ATS will scan the context and not just repeated words. If the system sees a resume crammed with random terms, it may flag it as low quality.

Fact: The right strategy is to use keywords that the company is looking for. Find them in job descriptions and skills sections to add to the resume.

3. "ATS Only Reads Resumes in Plain Text"

While it's true that complex designs can create readability issues, ATS can process properly formatted PDFs and Word documents. The problem arises with columns, images, text boxes, or elements that break the structure.

Fact: Standard fonts, clear headings, and normal layouts are the way to go. Avoid anything that might confuse the system.

4. "Check Every Box of the Role"

Many applicants assume they should hit every mark employers look for to get through ATS. This isn't true. ATS will check the overall relevance and not only the exact checklist.

Fact: If you are able to match even 60-70% of the qualifications, you still have a strong chance. Just show the new and latest skills that relate to the role.

5. "ATS Only Looks at Work Experience and Skills"

Some believe ATS only watches for job titles and technical skills while ignoring achievements and certifications.

Fact: Add quantifiable results, certifications, and projects that can improve your ranking. Just make it in a way that is easy to read and not buried in a complicated layout.

6. "Use Resume Designs that Help You Stand Out"

Many applicants think a creative resume with colours, charts, and images makes them look better. While it might impress a human reader, ATS can't process graphical elements and might reject such resumes.

Fact: If you want a creative resume, save it when you are networking or in direct applications where a human will be the first to see it.

7. "If Your Resume Isn't ATS-Friendly, It Won't Be Seen At All"

Some job seekers panic, thinking that it's doomed if ATS doesn't parse their resume perfectly. While formatting issues can affect ranking, many recruiters still manually check applications.

Fact: You should follow ATS best practices because your resume isn't completely ignored due to formatting issues.

8. "Only The First Page of Your Resume is Important"5

There's a common belief that ATS only scans the first page and ignores everything else. True, but not completely! ATS reads the full document and ranks resumes based on content throughout.

Fact: While keeping important details on the first page is smart, don't cut out valuable experience to fit everything into a single page.

9. "You Need a Separate Resume for Every Application"

You don't need to rewrite your entire resume for every job. Small adjustments, such as making changes in the skills section or rearranging bullet points, are enough for better ATS compatibility.

Fact: A strong base resume with minor customizations works best.

Are Paid Resume Builders Worth It?

Paid resume builders sell convenience, not results. It's a statement most candidates make.

Some of them use flashy designs that recruiters hate. They use creative graphics, columns, and excessive styling to confuse ATS filters. But this only helps in rejecting resumes. You should rather look for resume builders that auto-generate bullet points and format them correctly.

Another little-known fact: some resume builders change formatting just enough to force job seekers to stick to their platform. If you try to edit the resume outside their tool, the spacing, fonts, or structure fall apart. This means you're either stuck paying monthly fees or left with a file that needs heavy fixing. So, choose wisely.

Conclusion

After testing various resume builders against ATS filters, one thing is clear—automation can't replace strategy. Some tools create resumes that look good but fail to pass ATS scans. Others kept it simple but didn't do any customization.

To get accepted in seconds, you should use both technology and human input. And for this, create a resume with tools and review it yourself.