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The ATS rules

Every rule the ATS check applies, grouped by what it looks at, with its severity and the exact point at which it applies, and which can be fixed in one click.

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These are all the rules behind the ATS check. Each applies to a resume unless a note says it also applies to a cover letter. A rule that has a one-click fix says what the fix does.

The header and contacts

RuleSeverityWhen it applies
No nameErrorThe header has no name. Also a letter.
No email addressWarningNo contact reads as an email address. Also a letter.
No phone numberSuggestionNo contact reads as a phone number of at least seven digits.
A contact with only an iconErrorA contact shows an icon and no text. Also a letter.

An email is a contact that looks like [email protected], and a phone number is a contact with at least seven digits. They are read from what the contact says and from the scheme of its link, because a contact is free text and not a typed field.

Sections and structure

RuleSeverityWhen it applies
A section has no headingErrorA visible section has an empty title.
A section is emptyWarningA visible section has no blocks. Fix: hide the section.
No core sectionWarningNo visible Experience, Education or Projects section has anything in it.
An unusual headingSuggestionA heading is not one a parser is likely to know. Only checked for English and Indonesian resumes.
Two columnsWarningA section is set in two columns. Fix: use one column.
A tableWarningA table is used. Also a letter.
Unprintable MarkdownSuggestionA line is kept as source text because it cannot be typeset. Also a letter.
An image with no alt textWarningAn image has an empty description. Also a letter.
A photoSuggestionThe header carries a photograph.

None of Rejarsume's own templates sets a section in two columns, and nothing in the editor does. The rule applies to a document that arrived that way, such as a restored backup.

Dates

RuleSeverityWhen it applies
The end is before the startErrorA date range runs backwards.
An end with no startWarningA date range has an end date and no start.
A date in wordsWarningA date is not a year or a month, such as Summer 2019.
Mixed date formatsSuggestionA section writes some dates as years and others as months.
A gapSuggestionThere is more than six months between one job ending and the next starting.

Dates are read as YYYY or YYYY-MM. A job with a start and no end could be ongoing, so the gap rule says nothing at all rather than guess.

Type, margins and colour

RuleSeverityWhen it appliesFix
Small body textWarningThe body size is under 9.5pt. Also a letter.Set the body size to 10pt
Narrow marginsWarningA margin is under 0.4in. Also a letter.Raise the margins to 0.5in
Low contrastWarningThe text, heading, accent or muted colour is under 4.5 to 1 on the paper.Restore the template's colour
An uploaded fontSuggestionThe body or heading font is one you uploaded.Use the template's font

An uploaded font is embedded in the PDF and the HTML, but a system that re-draws the text may substitute its own, so the three built-in faces are the safer choice. See Images and fonts.

Hidden and added text

RuleSeverityWhen it applies
Hidden textWarningYour CSS uses display: none, visibility: hidden, a font size of 0, an opacity of 0 or transparent text. Also a letter.
Generated textSuggestionYour CSS adds text with ::before or ::after. Also a letter.

Comments in your CSS are ignored, so a rule you have switched off is not reported. See Custom CSS.

Content

RuleSeverityWhen it applies
A long bulletSuggestionA bullet is longer than about 300 characters, around three lines.
A long summarySuggestionA summary is longer than about 600 characters.
A role with no descriptionSuggestionAn entry in Experience has no summary and no bullets.

Length

RuleSeverityWhen it applies
Too many pagesWarningA resume runs past two pages, or a letter past one. Needs the paper to have been measured.
A long letterSuggestionA cover letter is over 450 words. Counted from the text, so it needs no measuring.