Resume Bullet Points and ATS: How to Format Bullets for Parsing
Bullet points are the backbone of effective resume writing, but the wrong bullet format can cause parsing issues. Standard bullets parse perfectly; custom symbols, nested lists, and creative markers may confuse the ATS or be replaced with garbled characters. Here's how to format bullets for maximum ATS compatibility.
How ATS Reads Bullet Points
ATS parsers recognize bullet points as list items within a section. The parser uses the bullet character and formatting to identify where one item ends and the next begins. Standard round bullets (•), hyphens (-), and basic formatting are universally recognized.
The content within each bullet is extracted as text and scored for keyword matches. Well-written bullets that contain relevant keywords, quantified achievements, and action verbs provide the best ATS scoring potential.
Some parsers also associate bullet content with the job entry above them, linking your achievements to specific positions. This helps the ATS understand which skills and accomplishments belong to which role.
Best Bullet Formats for ATS
Standard round bullets (•) are the safest choice. These are created by using the standard list feature in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Hyphens (-) and simple dashes are also universally compatible.
Avoid custom bullet characters like ★, ➤, ▸, ✓, or ◆. While they look distinctive, some parsers replace them with unrecognized character symbols or skip them entirely. This can cause your bullet points to merge into one continuous paragraph.
Never use images or icons as bullet markers. These are invisible to the parser, and your content may appear as a continuous text block without any list structure.
| Bullet Type | ATS Compatibility | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Standard round (•) | Excellent | • Managed team of 12 engineers |
| Hyphen (-) | Excellent | - Increased revenue by 25% |
| Em dash (—) | Good | — Led product launch initiative |
| Arrow (→, ➤) | Risky | May not be recognized |
| Star/check (★, ✓) | Poor | Often replaced with garbled chars |
| Icon/image | Zero | Invisible to parser |
Writing ATS-Optimized Bullets
Beyond formatting, the content of your bullets affects ATS scoring. Start each bullet with a strong action verb that matches the job description's language. If the posting says 'manage,' use 'Managed' not 'Oversaw.'
Include relevant keywords naturally within each bullet. 'Developed RESTful APIs using Python and Django, deploying to AWS' contains multiple scorable keywords in a natural sentence.
Quantify achievements whenever possible. Numbers don't directly affect ATS scoring, but they make your bullets more compelling during the human review stage. 'Reduced deployment time by 40% through CI/CD pipeline optimization' is both keyword-rich and impactful.
Pro Tips
Use standard round bullets (•) or hyphens (-) for guaranteed ATS compatibility
Start each bullet with an action verb that matches the job description's language
Include 1-2 relevant keywords per bullet point naturally within the achievement statement
Keep bullets to 1-2 lines for optimal readability and parsing
Quantify achievements with numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts where possible
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using custom Unicode bullet characters that parsers don't recognize
Writing paragraph-length bullets that are harder to parse and harder for humans to scan
Starting bullets with 'Responsible for' instead of action verbs
Not including keywords in bullet points, relying only on the skills section for matching