CHEAPUNO guide

Will my resume pass ATS? 30-second check

Columns and complex layouts strip your data from automated scans. Run this plain-text test to see if your resume survives.

CHEAPUNO EditorialSources checked 7 10 月, 2026

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Spotlight

PAGE: https://alison.com/course/professional-resume-writing

PROMISE: Learn to format your resume so it passes automated filters and reaches a human recruiter

WHO: Entry-level to mid-level professionals who want to DIY their resume but need structured ATS guidance

WHYNOW: ATS systems continue to filter out the majority of applications before a human sees them

DESC: Improve your chances of getting a job with this job search course that explains how to write a good CV that stands out from the rest and earns you an interview.

BEFORE: Your resume is buried in an ATS queue due to missing keywords

BEFORE: Your experience section reads like a list of responsibilities

BEFORE: Your document layout makes key information hard to find

AFTER: Your resume matches the job requirements and reaches a human reviewer

AFTER: Your experience section highlights measurable impact and value

AFTER: Your document layout clearly directs attention to your top strengths

GAIN: Practical skills for keyword optimization to pass automated screening

GAIN: A structured method for converting duties into achievement statements

GAIN: Guidance on visual hierarchy to make the resume easy to scan

STEP: Your resume gets auto-rejected because it lacks the specific keywords recruiters search for || Indicate how to optimise your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) through the use of keywords || Read job descriptions to extract key terms and integrate them into your summary and experience bullet points

STEP: You struggle to make your work history stand out with generic duty lists || Indicate your skills and achievements using the ‘RAP’ method to write accomplishment statements || Rewrite each bullet point to highlight the specific result or improvement you achieved in a role

STEP: Your resume looks cluttered and hard to scan during a quick review || Discuss the different elements of your resume and format your CV with visual hierarchy for maximum impact || Adjust section spacing and font sizes to guide the reader’s eye to your most relevant qualifications first

NOTFOR: Candidates who need a fully custom resume written by a professional for a high-salary role

NOTFOR: Job seekers looking for immediate submission services rather than self-guided instruction

FACT: Average duration: 1.5-3 Hours (Contains Video)

FACT: CPD-accredited certificate available

FACT: Beginner level

COVERS: Describe how to write a professional resume that increase your chances of receiving interview opportunities

COVERS: Indicate your skills and achievements using the ‘RAP’ method to write accomplishment statements

COVERS: Explain how to write a personal brand statement that encapsulates your unique value proposition (UVP)

COVERS: Outline the different resume styles and identify the strengths of each

COVERS: Discuss the different elements of your resume and format your CV with visual hierarchy for maximum impact

COVERS: Indicate how to optimise your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) through the use of keywords

COVERS: Outline different career-related online platforms and learn how to build an online presence that complements your resume

COVERS: Resume

COVERS: Job Search

COVERS: Course Overview

COVERS: About This Course

MODULE: How to Build a Professional Resume || Introduction to Types of Resumes | Crafting a Professional Resume | Formatting and Online Tools

What you are probably seeing

Your application dashboard shows the ‘submitted’ status for weeks with no recruiter callback, while peers with simpler formats get interviews.

You download a ‘plain text’ version of your resume and notice that project descriptions and skills are jumbled, missing dates, or entirely absent.

Why it happens

Most applicant tracking systems parse resumes by reading text in linear blocks. Columns force the software to read left and right columns simultaneously, causing it to merge data or skip sections.

Modern Word and design tools add invisible metadata and graphic objects that look professional to humans but appear as garbled characters or empty fields to automated scanners.

What changed recently

Step by step

1. Copy all text from your current resume into a blank notepad file to see exactly what the automation software reads.

2. Remove all columns, text boxes, and graphic shapes, using only single-column paragraphs and standard headings.

3. Test your updated layout by pasting the text into a plain document to ensure skills and dates remain attached to their roles.

4. Save the final version as a simple Word document or PDF without special formatting fonts or complex headers.

5. Replace section headers with standard industry terms like ‘Experience’ and ‘Education’ instead of creative labels to ensure keyword matching.

Ways to go further

Start here: Professional Resume Writing For when you want professional help to refine your narrative and impact. Open the free course on Alison ↗

Better fit: Job Search Skills – Preparing Your Resume and Cover Letter For when you are preparing the full application package including a cover letter. Open the free course on Alison ↗

Best when: Create a Professional Resume For when you need a structured template to start from scratch. Open the free course on Alison ↗

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