An ATS-friendly resume uses one column, standard section headings, plain bullets, and a common font. The goal is not to beat a specific system — it is to make your text easy to extract and read correctly.
Last reviewed 2026-10-25
At a glance
- Columns
- One
- Headings
- Standard names
- Graphics
- Avoid tables and text boxes
- File type
- PDF unless DOCX is requested
- Font
- Common, 10–12pt body
What makes a resume easy to parse
Applicant tracking systems vary, but most extract text in reading order. A single-column layout with standard headings — Summary, Experience, Education, Skills — gives the parser a predictable structure. Bullets should be real bullet characters or simple hyphens, not images.
Dates should be consistent: either 'Jan 2023 – Present' everywhere or '01/2023 – Present' everywhere. Inconsistent formats make it harder to match roles to dates, and they look careless to a human reader too.
- One column, top to bottom.
- Standard headings with no creative labels.
- Contact details in the document body, not only in a header.
- A common font such as Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica at 10–12pt.
What breaks extraction
Tables, text boxes, multi-column layouts, and images can scramble reading order. A two-column template may look tidy in a PDF and still produce a jumbled text stream when parsed. The same applies to contact details placed inside a header or footer.
Graphics used for skill ratings are worse than useless: a five-dot scale conveys nothing to a parser and little to a recruiter. Write the skill and the evidence instead.
- No tables or text boxes for core content.
- No icons standing in for words.
- No skill bars or rating graphics.
- No important text inside images.
PDF or Word?
Send a PDF unless the posting asks for a Word document. A PDF preserves the layout you reviewed. Some older systems prefer DOCX, so follow the instruction in the posting rather than assuming.
Name the file clearly: 'Firstname-Lastname-Role.pdf'. A file called 'resume-final-v7.pdf' does not help anyone, and it can undercut an otherwise careful application.
Common mistakes
- Using a two-column template for a role that screens through an ATS.
- Putting contact details only in the document header.
- Relying on graphics to communicate skills.
- Sending a DOCX when the posting explicitly asks for a PDF, or the reverse.
ATS-friendly resume format FAQs
Can an ATS read a two-column resume?
Sometimes, but it is a risk. Reading order can be scrambled, especially when the columns are built with text boxes. Use one column for any application that may be screened automatically.
Should I use a PDF or Word file?
PDF by default, because it preserves layout. Use DOCX when the posting asks for it or when a recruiter requests an editable file.
Do keywords need to be repeated?
No. Use a term where it is accurate and natural. Stuffing the same keyword into every bullet reads badly to a human and does not reliably improve automated ranking.
Is a creative template always bad?
Not for every application. Design, advertising, and some startup roles may value a distinctive layout. For large employers and online portals, prioritize clean extraction.
Resume examples for this market
Other format guides
Check the finished document with the free resume check or browse all resume formats.