ATS-Friendly Resume Writing
How to format and structure your resume to pass through ATS filters and reach human recruiters
Creating an ATS-friendly resume is essential in today's job market. With most companies using Applicant Tracking Systems to screen candidates, your resume needs to be optimized not just for human eyes, but also for the algorithms that determine whether your application advances to the next stage.
Why ATS-Friendly Formatting Matters
- •First Impression: Your resume format is often the first barrier to getting your application seen by a human recruiter
- •Parsing Accuracy: Proper formatting ensures your information is correctly extracted and categorized by the ATS
- •Competitive Edge: A well-formatted resume can rank higher than equally qualified candidates with poorly formatted resumes
- •Universal Compatibility: ATS-friendly formatting works across different ATS platforms and versions
Best File Formats for ATS
✓ Recommended Formats
- • DOCX (Microsoft Word):
Most widely compatible format that preserves text data in a way ATS can easily parse
- • PDF (from text, not scanned):
Maintains formatting across devices and is compatible with most modern ATS
- • TXT (Plain Text):
Simple but universally compatible; useful as a backup option
✗ Formats to Avoid
- • Image files (JPG, PNG):
Cannot be parsed by ATS and will be rejected immediately
- • Scanned PDFs:
Treated as images; text cannot be extracted properly
- • Non-standard formats:
Avoid Pages, OpenOffice, or other proprietary formats unless specifically requested
Pro Tip: When applying online, check if the employer specifies a preferred file format. If not, DOCX is generally the safest choice, with PDF as a close second. Consider keeping versions of your resume in multiple formats ready for different application systems.
Optimal Resume Structure for ATS
Standard Sections (in recommended order)
- 1
Contact Information
Full name, phone number, professional email, LinkedIn URL (optional: location, portfolio/website)
- 2
Professional Summary or Objective
Brief overview of your qualifications, experience, and career goals (3-5 lines maximum)
- 3
Skills
Relevant technical, soft, and industry-specific skills (consider using both a skills summary and incorporating skills throughout your experience section)
- 4
Work Experience
Current and previous positions in reverse chronological order (company name, location, your title, dates of employment, and bullet points highlighting achievements)
- 5
Education
Degrees, certifications, relevant coursework, academic achievements
- 6
Additional Sections (Optional)
Projects, publications, volunteer work, professional affiliations, languages, awards
Pro Tip: While this structure works for most industries, certain fields may have specific expectations. For example, academic CVs typically place education before experience, and creative fields might include a portfolio section. Research industry standards for your specific field.
ATS-Friendly Formatting Guidelines
Do's
- ✓Use standard section headings (e.g., "Work Experience" instead of "Professional Journey")
- ✓Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman (10-12pt size)
- ✓Use simple, consistent formatting for dates (e.g., MM/YYYY or Month YYYY)
- ✓Include company name, location, title, and dates for each position
- ✓Use standard bullet points (•) for listing accomplishments
- ✓Keep formatting consistent throughout the document
- ✓Use standard margins (0.5-1 inch on all sides)
Don'ts
- ✗Avoid headers/footers for important information (ATS often can't read them)
- ✗Don't use tables, columns, or text boxes for layout (they confuse ATS parsing)
- ✗Avoid graphics, logos, or images (including in headers)
- ✗Don't use fancy formatting like word art, shadows, or 3D effects
- ✗Avoid unusual characters or symbols that aren't standard keyboard characters
- ✗Don't use abbreviations for section headings
- ✗Avoid excessive bold, italic, or underlined text (use sparingly for emphasis)
ATS-Friendly Resume Templates
Recommended Template Types
1. Chronological Resume
Best for: Candidates with a steady work history and clear career progression
Structure: Work experience listed in reverse chronological order (most recent first)
ATS compatibility: Excellent - follows the standard format most ATS are designed to parse
2. Functional Resume
Best for: Career changers or those with employment gaps
Structure: Skills and accomplishments grouped by function rather than by job
ATS compatibility: Poor - many ATS struggle with this format as they expect chronological work history
3. Combination/Hybrid Resume
Best for: Experienced professionals highlighting both skills and work history
Structure: Begins with a skills summary followed by chronological work history
ATS compatibility: Good - as long as the work history section follows standard chronological format
Pro Tip: For most job seekers, a chronological or combination resume format will work best for ATS compatibility. If you need to use a functional format to address specific career circumstances, consider including a brief chronological work history section to improve ATS parsing.
Before & After: ATS Resume Transformation
✗ Before: ATS Unfriendly
Header with graphic logo and contact info in text box
"Professional Journey" instead of "Work Experience"
Two-column layout with skills in sidebar
Fancy bullet points (★, ➤)
Job titles in creative format: "Marketing Guru" instead of "Marketing Manager"
Dates in inconsistent formats (2020-Present, Jan '18-Dec '19)
Excessive use of bold, italic, and underlined text
Skills listed as graphics (skill bars or charts)
✓ After: ATS Optimized
Simple header with name and contact info in plain text
Standard section heading: "Work Experience"
Single-column layout with clear section separation
Standard bullet points (•)
Accurate job titles: "Marketing Manager"
Consistent date format (MM/YYYY - MM/YYYY)
Minimal formatting, with bold used only for section headings and job titles
Skills listed as text in a dedicated skills section
Ready to Optimize Your Resume Content?
Now that you understand how to format your resume for ATS compatibility, the next step is to optimize your content with the right keywords and phrases that will help your resume score higher in ATS rankings.
Is your resume ATS-friendly?
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