If you're applying to dozens of jobs and hearing nothing back, ATS rejection is likely the culprit. Applicant Tracking Systems are used by 98% of Fortune 500 companies and over 75% of large Indian companies (including TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and all major MNCs). These systems automatically filter resumes based on keywords, formatting, and structure before a recruiter ever sees them.
The top reasons for ATS rejection in India: First, incompatible formatting — resumes with tables, text boxes, columns, headers/footers, and embedded images often get garbled during ATS parsing. The system can't read text inside graphics or complex layouts, causing critical information to be lost. Second, missing keywords — if the job description mentions 'React.js' and your resume says 'frontend development,' the ATS may not make the connection. Exact keyword matching is still how most ATS systems operate. Third, incorrect file formats — submitting .pages, .odt, or image files instead of .pdf or .docx leads to immediate rejection.
Other common causes include non-standard section headings (using 'My Journey' instead of 'Work Experience'), missing contact information, special characters that ATS can't process, and resumes that are too long or too short for the role's requirements. Some ATS systems also score resumes on a percentage match — if you fall below the threshold (typically 60-70%), you're automatically screened out regardless of your actual qualifications.
The fix is straightforward: use a clean, single-column format without graphics, match keywords from the job description, use standard section headings, submit as PDF or DOCX, and always run your resume through an ATS checker before applying. These simple steps can move you from the rejected pile to the shortlisted pile.