ATS-friendly resume format: what works and what breaks

Use one column

Two-column designs look modern, but many parsers read them left to right across both columns, mixing your skills into your job history. A single column keeps the reading order the same for software and people.

Stick to standard section headings

Parsers look for familiar words. Creative headings like “My Journey” or “What I Bring” may not be recognised.

• Summary (or Professional Summary)
• Skills (or Technical Skills)
• Experience
• Projects
• Education
• Certifications
• Achievements

Avoid tables, text boxes, images and icons for content

Text inside tables, text boxes, headers, footers or images is often skipped or scrambled. Put your name, contact details and every skill in normal body text. Skill bars and star ratings carry no information a parser can read, so list skills as words instead.

Write dates consistently

Use one style throughout, such as “Jul 2024 – Present” or “07/2024 – Present”. Mixed styles make it harder to calculate your years of experience, which many job filters rely on.

Choose a clear font and a real PDF

Use a common, readable font at 10–12 pt. Export a text-based PDF (not a scanned image or a photo of your resume), or a Word file if the employer asks for one. A quick test: if you can select and copy the text in your PDF, a parser can usually read it too.

Match the job's wording, truthfully

Recruiters often search the ATS for specific skills. If the job says “PostgreSQL” and you've used it, write “PostgreSQL” rather than only “databases”. Show each important skill inside an experience or project bullet, not just in the skills list, so it's clear you've actually used it. Never add skills you don't have: interviews will find the gap quickly.

Quick checklist before you apply

• Single column, standard headings
• Name, phone, email and city at the top, as normal text
• No tables, text boxes, images or skill bars
• Consistent dates on every role
• Key skills from the job description shown in real bullets
• Text-based PDF, file named like “Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf”