When submitting a resume online, understanding how applicant tracking systems (ATS) handle special characters can make a significant difference. These systems scan resumes to identify keywords and relevant information, but their treatment of special characters varies. Knowing how ATS interprets these symbols helps you craft a resume that is both professional and ATS-friendly.

How ATS Processes Special Characters

Applicant tracking systems use algorithms to parse resume content, extracting data such as skills, experience, and contact information. Special characters like hyphens, ampersands, bullets, and accents can either be ignored, misinterpreted, or cause parsing errors, depending on the system's sophistication.

  • Hyphens and dashes may be read as separators or ignored entirely.
  • Ampersands (&) are often recognized as 'and' but can sometimes cause parsing issues.
  • Bullets and special symbols may be omitted or misread, especially in older ATS versions.
  • Accented characters (e.g., é, ü) can be misinterpreted or replaced with plain letters, affecting keyword matches.

Common Special Characters and Their ATS Behavior

Hyphens and Dashes

Hyphens are frequently used in hyphenated names or to connect words in compound terms. ATS systems generally recognize hyphens as part of a word, but inconsistent usage can lead to parsing errors. For example, 'self-employed' should be kept intact rather than split into 'self' and 'employed.'

Ampersands (&)

Ampersands are often treated as 'and' by ATS, but their recognition depends on the system. When listing company names or skills, using 'and' instead of '&' can improve consistency. For example, 'Research & Development' might be read as 'Research and Development.'

Bullets and Symbols

Bullets help organize information visually but may pose problems for ATS parsing. Using simple characters like hyphens or asterisks is safer. Fancy symbols or emojis are best avoided, as they are often ignored or cause misinterpretation.

Accented Characters and Diacritics

Special characters with accents or diacritics can be misread or replaced with plain letters by ATS. For example, 'Café' might be read as 'Cafe,' which could affect keyword searches. To maximize compatibility, consider using plain text equivalents when possible.

Practical Tips for Optimizing Your Resume

  • Use standard characters: Stick to plain text for your skills and experience sections.
  • Replace special symbols with words when possible: For example, write 'and' instead of '&'.
  • Avoid fancy bullets: Use hyphens or asterisks instead of decorative symbols.
  • Check your resume in plain text: Save a copy as a .txt file to see how ATS might read it.
  • Test your resume with ATS simulators or tools to identify potential parsing issues.

Always review your resume in plain text form to identify and fix potential special character issues before submitting.

Frequently asked questions

Should I avoid using special characters altogether?

While it's best to keep your resume simple and clean, some special characters like hyphens and basic punctuation are acceptable. Focus on clarity and consistency rather than avoiding all symbols.

Can ATS recognize accented characters?

Many modern ATS can recognize and process accented characters, but not all systems do. To ensure your keywords are captured, consider using plain text equivalents when in doubt.

What’s the best way to test if my resume is ATS-friendly?

Save your resume as a plain text file and review how it appears. You can also use online ATS simulators or ask a career coach to review your formatting for potential issues.