116: How to optimize your resume for the ATS so you can get more UX job interviews

Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody | UX, Product Design, UX Research

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Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher with 20 years of experience who also founded the UX job search accelerator Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.

Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

This episode was from a session on Maven! Click here to watch the replay.

If you’re applying to UX jobs and not getting interviews, your resume might be the problem—specifically, how it interacts with the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

In this episode, Sarah Doody breaks down exactly how to format your resume so it gets past ATS filters and lands in front of recruiters and hiring managers.

You'll learn why you need TWO versions of your resume, what formatting mistakes to avoid, and how to tailor your resume for each job posting—without spending hours on every application.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ Why ATS matters and how it scans and ranks resumes

✔️ The difference between an ATS-friendly and a human-friendly resume

✔️ Why two-column resumes can sabotage your chances

✔️ How to use job descriptions to tailor your resume for better results

✔️ Three common resume mistakes that could be costing you interviews

✔️ Why a one-page resume could be hurting your job search

Timestamps

01:04 The Importance of a Strategic Resume

03:08 Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

06:24 How ATS Parses Your Resume

08:19 Formatting Your Resume for ATS

16:23 Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid

24:01 Recap and Final Tips

25:23 Conclusion and Contact Information

🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025

👉 Join Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.