How to Make an ATS-Friendly Resume in 2026
Many employers use applicant tracking systems to collect and organize applications before a recruiter reviews them. This guide shows you how to create a resume that can be parsed accurately, matches the role naturally, and remains easy for a person to read.
The short version
- Use a single-column layout with standard section headings.
- Mirror the exact keywords and job titles from the job description — truthfully, in context.
- Use a standard font and submit the file type requested in the job posting.
- Avoid using tables, text boxes, graphics, or headers and footers for essential information.
- Test the text order and tailor the resume before every application.
What is an ATS?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software employers use to collect and organize job applications. Many systems parse resume information such as your name, work history, skills, and education so recruiters can review, search, sort, or filter applications more efficiently.
The takeaway: your resume has two audiences. It has to be parsed correctly by the software and then read easily by a person. An ATS-friendly resume does both.
What is an ATS-friendly resume?
An ATS-friendly resume uses a clear structure that software can parse and wording that accurately reflects the requirements of the job. It should also be easy for a recruiter to scan. Complex layouts may look attractive but can cause information to be read in the wrong order or omitted by some systems.
How to make your resume ATS-friendly, step by step
1. Use a single-column layout
A single-column layout is the safest choice because it creates a predictable reading order. Some systems handle columns, but others may combine the text incorrectly. Keep your main content in one clear sequence from top to bottom.
2. Use standard section headings
Name your sections what the ATS expects: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications. Clever labels like "Where I've Made an Impact" can stop the parser from recognizing a section.
3. Match keywords from the job description
Read the job posting and identify the skills, tools, certifications, and responsibilities that genuinely match your experience. Use the employer's wording where it is accurate and natural. For example, if the posting uses “project management” and that is part of your background, include the exact phrase in a relevant bullet or skills section. See our ATS resume keywords guide for a step-by-step method.
4. Choose a standard, readable font
Use a common font like Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia, or Times New Roman at 10–12pt. Decorative or unusual fonts can fail to parse and hurt readability.
5. Save in the right file format
Follow the file-format instructions in the job posting. A text-based PDF often preserves formatting well, while a .docx may be requested by some employers. Avoid scanned or image-only documents because they do not contain normal selectable text. You can compare the formats in our PDF vs. Word resume guide.
6. Keep contact details in the body
Some systems ignore headers and footers. Put your name, phone, email, and location in the main body of the document, not in the header area.
7. Spell out acronyms
Write the full term and the abbreviation at least once — for example, "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)." A recruiter might search for either one.
8. Use a simple, consistent date format
Use a clear format like MM/YYYY for every role so the parser reads your timeline correctly and doesn't create gaps.
How to optimize your resume for ATS: format do’s and don’ts
| ✓ Use | ✕ Avoid |
|---|---|
| Single-column layout | Two or three columns |
| Standard headings (Experience, Skills) | Creative section names |
| Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri) | Decorative or script fonts |
| Plain bullet points | Tables and text boxes for layout |
| Text-based PDF (.docx if requested) | Image-only / scanned PDFs |
| Contact info in the body | Contact info in the header/footer |
| Real keywords in context | Hidden white-text keyword stuffing |
| Simple black text | Logos, icons, charts, photos |
The ATS resume checklist
Run your resume against this before every application:
ATS-Friendly Resume Checklist
8 checks · 60 secondsNo side-by-side columns anywhere.
Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.
Exact skills and the job title, used truthfully.
Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia, or Times.
Plain text and standard bullets only.
Not hidden in the header or footer.
"Customer Relationship Management (CRM)."
Selectable text — never a scanned image.
Common ATS resume mistakes to avoid
Avoidable formatting and targeting problems can weaken an application. Common examples include an unclear reading order, contact details placed only in the header, important information inside graphics, inconsistent dates, hidden keyword stuffing, and submitting the same generic resume for every role. Keep the document simple and tailor the wording honestly to each posting.
ATS-friendly resume example
A strong ATS-friendly experience bullet combines a relevant skill, a clear action, and a measurable result. It should sound natural rather than like a list of disconnected keywords.
Stronger: Coordinated daily inventory workflows for a 20-person warehouse team, resolving stock discrepancies and helping improve order accuracy to 98%.
The stronger version gives the ATS useful terms such as inventory workflows, warehouse, and order accuracy, while giving the recruiter evidence of scope and impact. Only use numbers and responsibilities you can support.
How to test whether your resume is ATS-friendly
Two quick checks before you submit:
The copy-paste test. Open your resume, select all, and paste it into a plain text editor. If the order scrambles, columns merge, or characters drop out, an ATS will struggle too.
The keyword test. Put your resume and the job description side by side. Are the important skills, tools, certifications, and role-specific terms present where they are accurate? If not, add them naturally.
The scanner test. Use the free ATS resume checker to review keyword coverage and basic formatting signals. Treat any score as guidance, not a guarantee of how a particular employer's system will process your application.
Skip the formatting guesswork
ATS Perfect helps you build a clean, single-column resume and tailor summaries, skills, and bullet points to a job description while keeping you in control of the final wording.
Build my ATS-friendly resume →Frequently asked questions
What is an ATS resume?
An ATS resume is one written and formatted so an applicant tracking system can read it correctly. In practice that means a single-column layout, standard section headings, real text instead of graphics, and keywords drawn from the job description. It’s a normal resume — just built so the software parses every line instead of scrambling or skipping it.
What is an ATS-friendly resume?
An ATS-friendly resume is one that passes cleanly through applicant tracking software without losing information. The core rules: one column, standard fonts, plain-text headings like Experience and Education, no tables or text boxes, and keywords that match the posting. If a system can read your resume top to bottom in the right order, it’s ATS-friendly.
How do I make my resume ATS-friendly?
Use a single-column layout, standard section headings, and a common font; remove tables, columns, images, and text boxes; add the job description’s keywords where they’re true for you; and export a text-based PDF or .docx. Then test it by copying the text into a plain editor — if it reads in order with nothing missing, you’re set.
Should an ATS resume be PDF or Word?
Use the format requested in the job posting. A text-based PDF usually preserves your layout, while some employers request a .docx. Avoid scanned or image-only files, and confirm that the text can be selected and copied before submitting.
Can a two-column resume pass an ATS?
Some systems can process two columns, but the reading order is less predictable across employers and platforms. A single-column resume is the safer option when you want maximum compatibility.
What is the best font for an ATS resume?
Use a standard, widely-supported font such as Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia, or Times New Roman, sized 10–12pt. These parse reliably and stay readable for the recruiter who reviews you next.
Should I use images, logos, or icons on an ATS resume?
Avoid placing essential information inside images, logos, icons, or charts because it may not be captured as normal resume text. Keep contact information, skills, and achievements written plainly in the document.
How many keywords should I put on my resume?
There's no fixed number. Include the specific skills, tools, and job title from the posting wherever they're true for you, woven naturally into your experience. Quality and relevance beat quantity — keyword stuffing can get your resume flagged.
How do I know if my resume is ATS-friendly?
Run one quick test: copy the text out of your resume and paste it into a plain editor like Notepad or TextEdit. If it comes out in the right order, with nothing missing, scrambled, or merged, an ATS can read it too. Then check the basics — a single column, standard headings like Experience and Education, a common font, no tables or graphics, and keywords from the posting. If it passes the copy-paste test and follows those rules, your resume is ATS-friendly.
How does ATS Perfect help with ATS-friendly resumes?
ATS Perfect provides clean resume layouts and tools for tailoring summaries, skills, and experience bullets to a target job description. You should still review every suggestion for accuracy and customize it to your real experience. You can build and preview free.
More ATS resume guides
- How to find and add ATS resume keywords
- How to test if your resume is ATS-friendly
- ATS resume format for nurses
- ATS resume format for project managers
- ATS resume format for accountants
- ATS resume format for customer service
- ATS resume format for entry-level & new grads
- ATS resume guide for Canadian job seekers
Related: ATS-friendly resume templates · Check your resume · Build your resume free · Why resumes get rejected