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ATS Systems Ranked: Workday vs Taleo vs Greenhouse (Which Ones Are Hardest?)

March 10, 20247 min readATS Research

Not all ATS systems are created equal. Some are brutal to pass. Others are more forgiving. The ATS system a company uses changes your strategy. A resume that passes Workday might fail Taleo. A format that works for Greenhouse might break in iCIMS.

Here's what you need to know about the major players—ranked by difficulty.

The Hardest ATS Systems (Most Strict Parsing)

1. Workday (Hardest)

Used by: Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Accenture, PepsiCo

Workday is notoriously strict. It has difficulty parsing:

  • Tables and columns (converts to weird text)
  • Graphics, logos, or formatted text boxes
  • Unconventional date formats (use MM/DD/YYYY)
  • Parenthetical information (it sometimes skips these)
  • Bullet points that aren't formatted simply

Strategy: Keep formatting simple. Use standard bullets. Avoid tables. Include keywords naturally in sentences, not just in lists. Use dates consistently. Workday is more forgiving with keyword matching, but brutal on formatting.

2. SAP SuccessFactors

Used by: Cisco, Oracle, Siemens, Lufthansa, SAP (obviously)

SAP is picky about structure. It struggles with:

  • Non-standard date formats
  • Missing location information (it expects city/state)
  • Skills section without clear labels
  • Unusual resume structures

Strategy: Use a standard resume format. Include full location (city, state). Create an explicit SKILLS section. Use standard date formats. Don't get creative with layout.

3. Taleo (Now Oracle Taleo)

Used by: Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo, Honda, Salesforce, Hilton

Taleo has improved over the years, but it still misses:

  • Advanced formatting (tables, text boxes, headers inside sections)
  • PDFs with images or embedded graphics
  • Complex bullet hierarchies
  • Hidden text (white text on white background to trick ATS)

Strategy: Use a clean PDF or Word format. Stick to basic formatting. Use simple bullet hierarchies. Avoid any tricks—Taleo specifically screens for keyword stuffing.

The Middle Tier (Moderate Difficulty)

4. iCIMS

Used by: Starbucks, Best Buy, CVS, Target, United Airlines

iCIMS is moderate. It parses most standard resumes fine, but struggles with:

  • Multiple columns (often fails)
  • Unusual date formats
  • Text without clear section breaks

Strategy: Single column, standard dates, clear section headers. It's forgiving of formatting beyond that.

5. BrilliantHire

Used by: Tech companies (mid-size), startups using enterprise ATS

BrilliantHire is relatively new and flexible. It handles most resume formats, but prefers:

  • Consistent formatting
  • Clear job titles and dates
  • Standard fonts

Strategy: Standard resume format. Not as strict as Workday or SAP.

The Easiest ATS Systems (Most Forgiving)

6. Greenhouse (Most Forgiving)

Used by: GitHub, Stripe, Figma, Slack, Guidepoint

Greenhouse is notoriously forgiving. It parses almost any resume format. Why? Because Greenhouse is built for modern tech companies that often use human reviewers anyway. But don't get complacent:

  • It still filters for keywords if configured to do so
  • It still passes your resume to recruiters who scan it
  • Your resume still needs to be good—just not as strict on formatting

Strategy: Focus on content and keywords, not formatting. Greenhouse prioritizes recruiter review over algorithmic parsing.

7. Lever

Used by: Stripe, Calendly, Notion, Chia, Airbnb

Lever is also forgiving. It's built for startups and modern tech companies. Parsing is flexible:

  • You can use most resume formats
  • Creative formatting is often okay
  • It prioritizes human review

Strategy: You have more freedom here. But remember: recruiters still scan for the same things (relevant skills, experience, impact).

How to Know Which ATS a Company Uses

Before you apply, try to figure out which ATS the company uses:

  • Check the job posting URL. The domain often tells you. "workday.com" = Workday. "taleo.net" = Taleo. "greenhouse.io" = Greenhouse.
  • Look at the application form. Each ATS looks different. After a few applications, you recognize them.
  • Google it. Search "[Company Name] + ATS system" or "[Company Name] + careers platform."
  • Use Hirelyze. We tell you which ATS a company uses and how to optimize for it.

One Universal Strategy

If you can't figure out which ATS a company uses, follow this universal strategy:

  • Single column layout (never multiple columns)
  • Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
  • Clear section headers
  • Consistent date formatting (MM/DD/YYYY)
  • Simple bullet points, no complex hierarchies
  • No tables, images, or graphics
  • Keywords naturally incorporated
  • Save as PDF or .docx (check job posting for preferences)

This strategy works for all of them. You won't optimize perfectly for every ATS, but you'll pass most.

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