Common ATS Software Used by Employers
By VitaForge Editorial Team | Published: May 22, 2026 | Updated: May 22, 2026
When you apply for a job online, your resume is handled by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Different companies use different platforms, and each platform has its own parser capabilities and scoring algorithms. Knowing which system a company is using and how it processes documents can help you format your resume to avoid being filtered out.
Most systems categorize your skills, calculate your years of experience, and rank your profile relative to the job requirements. While you cannot customize your resume layout for every individual platform, keeping your design simple and your terminology aligned with industry standards ensures high performance across all major systems.
Major ATS Platforms and Their Quirks
Here is a breakdown of the most common Applicant Tracking Systems used by recruiters today and what you should pay attention to for each:
| ATS Platform | Target Audience | Parsing Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Workday | Fortune 500, Enterprise | Strict field matching. Requires structured data for dates and locations. |
| Greenhouse | Tech Startups, Growth companies | Modern parsing. Highly flexible with formats, but values keyword density. |
| Taleo (Oracle) | Large Corporations, Government | Older parser engine. Extremely sensitive to complex designs, graphics, and side columns. |
| Lever | Mid-market, Scale-ups | Clean parsing. Parses LinkedIn data profiles. Prefers linear structures. |
How to Detect Which ATS is Being Used
You can easily identify the platform by looking at the URL when you click "Apply Now". For example:
- If the URL contains
wd5.myworkdayjobs.com, the company is using Workday. - If it contains
boards.greenhouse.io, it is Greenhouse. - If the domain contains
lever.co, it is Lever.
Best Formatting Practices for All Platforms
Because you want your resume to score well regardless of the platform, apply these universal styling rules:
- Use standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, Georgia, or Helvetica are readable by all systems.
- Avoid header/footer details: Place your email and phone number in the main body, as some older Taleo systems skip header sections.
- Use standard headings: Stick to "Work Experience" or "Education" instead of creative variants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Greenhouse reject resumes automatically?
No. While some enterprise tools have auto-archive thresholds, Greenhouse is designed to encourage manual reviews by coordinators. However, having a matching resume structure ensures you are high up in the ranking lists.
Can I submit my resume in PDF format to Taleo?
Yes, but ensure it is a text-based PDF and not a scanned image. If your PDF is complex, Taleo might occasionally misalign text lines. If you are worried, a clean Word (.docx) file is the safest choice for Taleo.