An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) scans resumes for role fit before a human sees them.
For a Boat Painter, ATS looks for keywords like "epoxy", "antifouling", "gelcoat", "spray painting", "primer", "marine coatings", "VOC compliance", "surface preparation", "sanding", "masking", "corrosion protection", and safety terms like "PPE" and "OSHA".
Use clear section titles that ATS expects.
- Work Experience
- Education
- Skills
- Certifications
Avoid complex layouts. Tables, columns, headers, footers, images, and text boxes confuse many ATS parsers.
Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Save as .docx or PDF unless the job asks for one format.
Put keywords naturally in sentences. Show where you used certain paints, methods, and safety rules.
Common mistakes include swapping exact keywords for creative synonyms. For example, don’t replace "antifouling" with "boat bottom paint" only.
Don’t rely on headers or footers to hold contact details. Some ATS ignore those areas.
Also avoid omitting certifications or tools. Missing "NACE" or "HVLP" can drop you from searches.