ATS-Friendly Resume: Format, Tips & Examples (2026)

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that companies use to manage job applications. In 2026, over 98% of Fortune 500 companies and approximately 75% of all employers use some form of ATS. If your resume isn't optimized for these systems, it may never be seen by a human.

How ATS Systems Work

When you submit a resume, the ATS:

1. Parses your document — Extracts text and attempts to categorize it into fields (name, email, experience, education, skills)
2. Searches for keywords — Matches your content against the job description requirements
3. Ranks candidates — Assigns a score based on keyword match percentage and other criteria
4. Filters results — Recruiters typically review only the top-ranked candidates

The most common ATS systems are Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, iCIMS, and Taleo. Each parses documents slightly differently, so a universally compatible format is essential.

ATS-Friendly Resume Format Rules

Document Format

• File type: PDF is safest. Some older ATS systems prefer .docx — if the job posting specifies a format, use that
• File name: FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf — professional and easy to find
• No images or graphics: ATS cannot read images, logos, headshots, or icons. Skill bars, charts, and progress indicators are invisible to the system
• No headers/footers: Many ATS systems cannot read content in document headers and footers. Put your contact info in the main body
• No text boxes: Content inside text boxes is often skipped entirely

Layout and Structure

• Single column layout: Multi-column layouts confuse ATS parsers. The text gets merged in wrong order
• Standard section headings: Use exactly these terms:
  • "Professional Summary" or "Summary"
  • "Experience" or "Work Experience"
  • "Education"
  • "Skills" or "Technical Skills"
  • "Certifications" (if applicable)
• Standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Garamond, or Times New Roman. Size 10-12pt for body, 14-16pt for your name
• Simple bullet points: Use standard round bullets (•). Avoid dashes, arrows, or custom characters

Content Optimization

• Mirror the job description: If the posting says "project management," your resume should say "project management" — not "managed projects" or "PM"
• Use both acronyms and full terms: Write "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)" the first time, then "SEO" after. This catches both keyword variants
• Include hard skills explicitly: Don't assume the ATS will infer skills from your experience. If you know Python, list "Python" in your skills section
• Spell out dates: "January 2023 - Present" or "01/2023 - Present" — both work. Avoid "Jan '23" or other abbreviations

Keyword Strategy

The most effective keyword strategy:

1. Copy the job description into a word cloud generator or just read it carefully
2. Identify the top 10-15 skills and requirements mentioned
3. Ensure each one appears at least once in your resume (naturally, not stuffed)
4. Place the most important keywords in your Summary and Skills sections
5. Reinforce them in your Experience bullets with context

Use our free Resume Score tool to check how well your resume matches common ATS criteria.

ATS Testing

Before submitting, test your resume:

• Copy-paste test: Open your PDF, select all text (Ctrl+A), and paste into a plain text editor. If the text comes out garbled or out of order, the ATS will have the same problem
• Parse test: Submit your resume to a job you're not interested in (or a test posting) and see how the ATS pre-fills your profile fields. If your name ends up in the "address" field, your formatting needs work

Common ATS Myths

• Myth: "White text keywords" trick the ATS — False. Modern ATS systems detect hidden text and flag it as spam. This will get you rejected.
• Myth: "Only .docx files work" — False. Most modern ATS systems handle PDFs well. Some even prefer them.
• Myth: "ATS rejects resumes with color" — False. Color in text (like dark blue for headings) is fine. The ATS reads text regardless of color. Just avoid color in images or graphics.
• Myth: "Two-page resumes get rejected" — False. ATS doesn't care about page count. Use the space you need.

Key Takeaways

• Use a single-column layout with standard section headings
• Save as PDF, avoid images/graphics/text boxes/headers
• Mirror keywords from the job description exactly
• Test your resume with the copy-paste method before submitting
• Never use hidden text or keyword stuffing tricks