ATS-Friendly Resume Formatting
Great content still fails if the ATS can't parse it. ATS-friendly formatting keeps your resume readable to both software and humans.
Do
Use a single-column layout, standard section headings, and a common font (Arial, Calibri, Georgia) at 10–12pt.
Save as a text-based PDF, use standard bullet points, and keep dates in a consistent MM/YYYY format.
Don't
Avoid tables, multi-column layouts, text boxes, headers/footers for key info, images, and icons for skills.
Don't put contact details only in the header — some parsers ignore headers entirely.
Key takeaways
- ✓Single column, standard headings, common font.
- ✓Text-based PDF; no tables, text boxes, or images for key content.
- ✓Keep contact info in the body, not just the header.
Put this into practice in minutes
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