Bullhorn ATS Resume Format Guide: Optimizing for Staffing Agencies
Bullhorn is the dominant ATS/CRM platform for staffing agencies and recruitment firms. If you're working with a recruiter or applying through a staffing agency, your resume is likely being processed through Bullhorn. Understanding Bullhorn's unique characteristics helps you optimize for the agency recruiting process.
Bullhorn in the Staffing Industry
Bullhorn is specifically designed for the staffing and recruitment industry, combining ATS and CRM functionality to manage both candidate and client relationships. Over 10,000 staffing agencies worldwide use Bullhorn.
When you submit your resume to a staffing agency, it enters Bullhorn's candidate database. Recruiters search this database when they have open positions from their clients. Your resume may be matched against multiple opportunities from different client companies.
Bullhorn's approach is database-centric—recruiters actively search for candidates rather than just reviewing applications for specific jobs. This means your resume's searchability is as important as its readability.
Bullhorn Parsing with Daxtra
Bullhorn typically uses Daxtra as its parsing engine. Daxtra is a well-established parser with good accuracy for standard resume formats. It extracts contact information, work history, education, skills, and certifications.
Daxtra parses DOCX and PDF files effectively, though DOCX provides slightly better results. The parser handles multiple languages and various resume formats, but performs best with single-column, chronological layouts.
One important Bullhorn-specific behavior: when a recruiter reformats your resume for client submission, they may strip or modify your formatting. This means the content quality matters more than design in the Bullhorn ecosystem.
| Bullhorn Feature | How It Works | Optimization Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Daxtra parsing | Advanced NLP text extraction | Use standard formatting and headings |
| Database search | Boolean keyword search by recruiters | Include comprehensive, searchable keywords |
| Resume reformatting | Recruiters reformat for clients | Focus on content over design |
| Skills taxonomy | Categorized skill matching | Use industry-standard skill names |
| Candidate scoring | Match score against job requirements | Include all relevant qualifications |
Optimizing for Agency Recruiting
When optimizing for Bullhorn and agency recruiting, think broadly rather than narrowly. Your resume enters a database that's searched for many different positions. Include all relevant skills, technologies, and experience rather than tailoring narrowly for one role.
Include your rate or salary expectations if you're comfortable—staffing agencies often filter by compensation range. Also include your availability (immediate, 2-week notice, etc.) and location preferences (remote, hybrid, on-site, willing to relocate).
For contract and consulting roles, list each engagement separately with client names (if not confidential), technologies used, and project outcomes. Contract work history formatted clearly helps recruiters match you with similar engagements.
Pro Tips
Include a comprehensive skills section with 20+ relevant terms—staffing recruiters search by specific skill combinations
List availability, location preferences, and compensation expectations to match recruiter search filters
For contract roles, list each engagement separately with specific technologies and outcomes
Use standard industry terminology rather than company-specific jargon
Keep your resume content-focused—agencies often reformat resumes before submitting to clients
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Narrowly tailoring your resume for one specific role when it will be searched for many different positions
Not including availability or compensation information that staffing recruiters commonly filter by
Using company-specific terminology that doesn't translate across different client organizations
Having too few skills listed, reducing your visibility in Bullhorn database searches