What Makes a Resume ATS Friendly?
An ATS friendly resume is formatted so Applicant Tracking Systems can accurately parse and read every section. Most ATS software struggles with complex layouts, graphics, and non-standard formatting — causing qualified candidates to be filtered out before a human reviews their application.
The best ATS resume format is simple: single column, standard fonts, clear headings, and plain text. No tables, no columns, no text boxes, no headers or footers with contact info.
Single Column Layout
Use a simple single-column design. ATS reads top to bottom, left to right.
Avoid multi-column layouts, tables, or sidebar designs. ATS often skips these entirely.
Standard Fonts
Use Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Times New Roman, or Helvetica at 10-12pt.
Avoid decorative fonts, custom fonts, or font sizes below 10pt.
Simple File Format
Save as .docx or simple PDF. Use .docx if unsure — it parses most reliably.
Avoid PDFs with heavy graphics, scanned documents, or image-based CVs.
Clear Section Headings
Use standard headings: Experience, Education, Skills, Summary. Bold them.
Avoid creative headings like "My Journey" or "Where I've Been".
ATS Resume Template Structure
Contact Information
Name, email, phone, LinkedIn URL. Place at the top, not in a header.
Example
John Smith john.smith@email.com | 07700 900123 | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
Professional Summary
2-3 sentences with keywords from the job description. Placed directly below contact info.
Example
Results-driven Marketing Manager with 8+ years experience in B2B SaaS. Expertise in SEO, content marketing, and demand generation. Proven track record of increasing qualified leads by 40%+.
Experience
Reverse chronological. Company name, job title, dates, bullet points with achievements.
Example
Senior Marketing Manager — ACME Corp January 2021 – Present | London, UK • Led integrated campaign strategy across paid and organic channels • Grew inbound leads by 38% YoY through SEO-led content programme • Managed £450k annual marketing budget
Skills
List relevant skills in a simple format. Include keywords from the job posting.
Example
SEO/SEM | Google Analytics | HubSpot | Content Marketing | B2B Lead Generation | Team Leadership
Education
Degree, institution, graduation year. Include relevant certifications.
Example
BSc Marketing (2:1) — University of Manchester, 2015 CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing, 2020
ATS Resume Format Mistakes to Avoid
Using tables for layout
Use simple line breaks and consistent spacing
Putting contact info in header/footer
Place contact info in the main body at the top
Using graphics, icons, or images
Use plain text only — ATS cannot read images
Creative section headings
Use standard headings: Experience, Education, Skills
Multi-column layouts
Single column, top to bottom reading order
Fancy bullet points or symbols
Use standard bullets (•) or hyphens (-)