In today’s competitive job market, crafting a resume that catches the eye of both hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) is essential. Gone are the days when a beautifully designed resume alone could set you apart. In 2025, creating an ATS-friendly product design resume is the key to landing your dream job.
As an experienced product designer with over 10 years of expertise in UX and Product Design, I’ve learned firsthand how to navigate the complexities of crafting resumes that appeal to ATS and recruiters. Follow these expert tips to ensure your resume gets noticed and doesn’t end up lost in the void of the ATS filters.
What Are Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)?
Before diving into resume optimization, it’s crucial to understand ATS. These systems automatically screen resumes to determine if candidates meet the basic qualifications for a role. If your resume isn’t formatted correctly or doesn’t include relevant keywords, it could be rejected before it even reaches a human recruiter.
To learn more about how ATS works, check out this comprehensive guide.
1. Embrace Simplicity in Design
While showcasing your creativity with a visually stunning resume may be tempting, ATS often struggles to read intricate designs. Multiple columns, graphics, or overly stylized layouts can render your resume unreadable to these systems. Instead:
- Use a clean, single-column format.
- Leverage typography and spacing to create a clear visual hierarchy.
- Focus on readability over aesthetics.
2. Avoid Design Software for Resumes
Though tools like Figma are excellent for designing, they are not ideal for creating ATS-friendly resumes. Most design software exports PDFs that ATS cannot correctly parse. Instead, use word processing tools like Google Docs or Microsoft Word to format your resume and export a robot-readable PDF.
Need a template? Check out this one specifically designed for clarity and compatibility with ATS.
3. Tailor Your Resume to Each Job
A generic resume won’t cut it in 2025. Create a master version of your resume containing your experiences, skills, and accomplishments. Then, customize a copy for each job application by incorporating:
- Keywords from the job description.
- Role-specific achievements and responsibilities.
- Relevant skills that align with the position.
4. Include Essential Resume Sections
An effective product design resume should feature the following sections:
- Summary (Optional): A brief overview of your experience, highlighting key achievements and including relevant keywords.
- Work Experience: List your roles in reverse chronological order with concise bullet points. Use action verbs, quantify your impact, and keep bullet points under 35 words.
- Education: Include degrees, certifications, or coursework relevant to the job.
- Licenses (Optional): Add if applicable to your industry or role.
- Skills: Highlight technical and soft skills that are critical for the role.
5. Write Impactful Bullet Points
When describing your work experience, focus on results-driven bullet points. Use this formula:
Action Verb + Task + Impact
Example: “Redesigned onboarding process, reducing user drop-off rate by 20%.”
This approach ensures your accomplishments are both clear and compelling.
Resources
- In my experience, Resume Worded offers the best feedback on your resume, complete with actionable steps.
Final Thoughts
As someone who has designed for complex problem spaces and mentored countless UX designers, I understand the challenges of building a resume that aligns with industry standards. Your resume is more than just a document—it’s your ticket to the next phase of your career. By following these tips, you can create an ATS-friendly product design resume highlighting your skills and accomplishments while increasing your chances of landing interviews.
Get the Template
Are you ready to make your resume stand out? Download the template and start optimizing today!