The ATS-friendly resume format checklist:
Layout
- Single column. Two-column layouts trip older parsers.
- Reverse-chronological order. Most recent experience first.
- Standard sections: Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.
- 0.5"-1" margins. 10-12pt body text. 14-16pt headers.
Content
- Action verbs: "Led," "shipped," "delivered," "scaled."
- Numbers: "Reduced p95 latency 40%."
- JD keyword mirroring: match the JD's language for skills you actually have.
- No fluff: cut adverbs, soft-skill labels without proof, generic phrases.
File type
- PDF (text-based). Best for most modern ATS.
- .docx. Also fine; some legacy ATS prefer it.
- Avoid: .pages, .odt, scanned PDFs, image-only formats.
Sections in order
- Header (name, contact, LinkedIn URL)
- Summary (optional, 2-3 lines)
- Experience
- Education
- Skills
- Certifications (if relevant)
Specific section formats
Experience:
[Company] | [City, State] | [Start – End]
[Title]
- [Bullet]
- [Bullet]
Education:
[Degree], [Major]
[University] | [Year]
Skills:
Languages: ...
Frameworks: ...
Tools: ...
What ATS doesn't like
- Two-column layouts
- Tables and text boxes
- Images, headshots, logos
- Custom fonts
- Headers/footers (some parsers skip)
- Unusual section names ("Where I've Worked" instead of "Experience")
Run it through a checker
Use Jobscan or Resume Worded to test parseability before sending. Or run it through the Sorce auto-tailoring, our agent surfaces the right keywords per application without you doing the manual work.
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Applicant tracking system resume format checklist
- Use one column.
- Use standard headings: Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.
- Avoid graphics, text boxes, logos, and important content in headers or footers.
- Save as a text-based PDF or .docx.
- Mirror job-description keywords only when they match real experience.
Before submitting, paste the resume and job description into the ATS resume checker.
For more: ats friendly resume, ats friendly resume template, what is ats.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Single-column, standard section names (Experience, Education, Skills), 10-12pt body, system fonts, PDF or .docx.
Reverse-chronological (most recent first). Functional resumes confuse parsers and hide gaps in ways that read as red flags.
Yes, but only ones that match your real experience. Keyword-stuffing reads as spam; honest mirroring helps the ATS find you.
PDF (text-based, not scanned image) or .docx. Both parse cleanly in modern ATS systems.