The ATS-friendly resume checklist:

Format

  • Single column. Two-column layouts confuse some parsers.
  • PDF or .docx. Text-based, not scanned image.
  • 10-12pt body text. 14-16pt for headers.
  • 0.5"-1" margins.
  • System fonts. Arial, Helvetica, Calibri, Times. Avoid custom fonts.

Structure

  • Standard section names: Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.
  • Most recent first in chronological sections.
  • Clear headers. Don't use a custom name for "Experience" — use "Experience."

Content

  • Action verbs. "Led," "shipped," "delivered," not "responsible for."
  • Numbers. "Reduced p95 latency 40%" beats "improved performance."
  • Job description language. Mirror the language of the JD where it matches your real experience.

What to avoid

  • Two-column layouts. Older ATS struggles.
  • Images, headshots, logos. ATS can't read them.
  • Tables. Sometimes parse poorly.
  • Custom fonts. May not embed in PDF.
  • Header / footer content. Some parsers skip them. Put name and contact in the body.
  • Section names like "Work History." Use "Experience."

Test before you send

  • Copy-paste test. Open your PDF in a text viewer or copy-paste into Notepad. If the text is jumbled, ATS will read it the same way.
  • Run through Jobscan or Resume Worded. Check the parsed output.

What about visual / designer resumes

  • For an in-person interview — use the designed version as a hand-out.
  • For online application — submit the ATS-friendly text-based version.

Don't sacrifice ATS parseability for design. The ATS sees you first.

Try Sorce

Sorce auto-tailors your resume per application — and outputs ATS-friendly format by default. 40 free swipes/day.

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