What is ATS (Applicant Tracking System)?
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software employers use to collect, scan, filter and rank job applications before a recruiter reviews them.
- Applicant Tracking System
- Resume parser
Updated 2026-07-25 · one of 47 terms in the OnJob career glossary
Key takeaways
- An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software employers use to collect, scan, filter and rank job applications before a recruiter reviews them.
- Also called Applicant Tracking System, Resume parser.
- In India, almost every mid-size and large company — and most job portals — route applications through an ATS.
- For a jobseeker this matters because a resume that an ATS cannot read clearly may never reach a human.
What does ATS (Applicant Tracking System) mean?
An Applicant Tracking System is the recruiting software that sits behind most online job applications. When you apply, your resume is parsed into a structured profile, stored in a database, and matched against the job's keywords and criteria so recruiters can search and shortlist candidates quickly.
How does ATS (Applicant Tracking System) work in India?
In India, almost every mid-size and large company — and most job portals — route applications through an ATS. Because the system reads text, resumes with clean formatting (no images or tables in key sections) and the exact skills and job-title keywords from the posting parse more reliably.
Why does ATS (Applicant Tracking System) matter to a jobseeker?
For a jobseeker this matters because a resume that an ATS cannot read clearly may never reach a human. Tailoring your resume to the job description and checking how it parses before applying improves your chances of being shortlisted.
Is ATS (Applicant Tracking System) the same as Resume parser?
Yes — ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is also commonly called Applicant Tracking System, Resume parser. An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software employers use to collect, scan, filter and rank job applications before a recruiter reviews them.
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