10 Resume Formatting Tips That Get Past ATS

Last updated: July 15, 2025

You’ve sent out dozens of resumes and heard nothing back.

The problem may not be your experience or skills. Check the formatting first.

Most companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to screen resumes before a human sees them. If the formatting is wrong, the system may misread the document or return no usable text.

You usually do not need to start from scratch. Check these 10 formatting rules instead.

1. Use a Clean, Single-Column Layout

Tables, columns, text boxes, and sidebars can scramble the reading order. The parser may not know where to look next, so it can return nonsense.

Do this instead: Use a simple, single-column layout. Your content flows from top to bottom in one straight line.

Why it works: ATS parsers read left-to-right, top-to-bottom. A single column matches how they expect to read a resume. (Resumly, PrismCV, Reddit)

2. Stick to Standard Section Headings

ATS parsers use a built-in dictionary to find standard sections like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.” If you call your experience section “Adventures in the Corporate Jungle” or “Where I’ve Worked,” the parser won’t recognize it.

Fix it: Use boring, standard headings. “Professional Experience,” “Work History,” “Education,” “Skills,” “Certifications.” Save creative names for the cover letter.

Pro tip: Read the section headings on the job posting itself. Mirror their language. If they say “Relevant Experience,” use that. (ResumeOptimizerPro, Resumly)

3. Choose Simple, Widely-Supported Fonts

Fancy fonts confuse parsers. When an ATS can’t read yours, it often swaps in a generic one, which throws off spacing and formatting.

The safe fonts: Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Verdana. Set body text at 10-12 pt and headings at 14-16 pt.

What to avoid: Script fonts, ultra-thin fonts, or anything with unusual characters. Stick to the classics.

4. Save and Submit as .docx (Unless Told Otherwise)

.docx is often safer than PDF for ATS.

Modern systems can parse PDFs, sure. But .docx is the most universally reliable format out there. Some older systems still choke on PDFs.

Rule of thumb: If the job posting says “Submit as PDF”, do that. If it doesn’t specify, go with .docx. (Indeed, Resumly)

5. Keep Contact Info Out of Headers and Footers

ATS parsers often skip headers and footers entirely. Put your phone number and email in the header and the system might never see them.

The fix: Put your contact info at the very top of the main body. Name, phone, email, and LinkedIn should sit in the first few lines of the document.

Why it matters: If the ATS can’t read your contact info, you could be perfect for the role and never get a call. (Reddit, PrismCV)

6. Use Standard Bullet Points and Consistent Dates

Small formatting inconsistencies scramble parsers. Mixing bullet types or switching date formats muddles the reading order.

The safe choices:

• Use standard bullet points: . or -
• Dates: “Jan 2020 - Mar 2023” or “January 2020 - March 2023”
• Don’t mix “March 2023” with “03/23” with “2023”

Pro tip: Pick one date format and use it everywhere. That’s it.

7. Include Keywords from the Job Description

ATS often ranks candidates by keyword matches. Relevant terms from the job description can help your resume appear in the right searches.

The strategy: Read the job description first. Pull out the 5-7 most important skills and qualifications, then sprinkle those phrases naturally into your experience and skills sections.

Example: Say the posting calls for “project management” and “cross-functional collaboration”. Those exact phrases should show up in your resume, not just close variations.

Warning: Don’t keyword stuff. It reads poorly for humans and can trigger spam filters. Use keywords naturally. (Indeed, Reddit, University of Pittsburgh)

8. Spell Out Acronyms at Least Once

ATS dictionaries may treat “SEO” and “Search Engine Optimization” as different terms. If the job description uses “SEO” but your resume only says “Search Engine Optimization”, you might miss a match.

Fix it: Write it out in full the first time, then use the acronym afterward. Example: “Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - then SEO afterwards.”

Why it works: It covers both versions, so the ATS matches regardless of how the keyword appears.

9. Skip Graphics, Logos, Photos, Charts, and Icons

ATS reads text, not graphics. Logos, photos, charts, and icons are invisible to the parser and can complicate the scan.

An infographic of your career timeline won’t help. A photo may just show up as a blank spot.

Keep it text-only. Your resume should work even if rendered as plain text. (Upskillist, ResumeMate)

10. Use a Professional File Name and Run an ATS Simulator

Pick a file name that says what the document is. A name like “resume_final_v3_2.docx” tells you nothing; “Jane_Doe_Resume_2025.docx.” at least points somewhere useful.

Before you hit submit, run the resume through an ATS simulator. Check that dates land where they should, sections are all present, and the text holds its order. Anything that fails to parse, fix it.

Free options: Jobscan, Resumly’s ATS checker, or even just paste everything into Notepad to see what a text-only version looks like.

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Key takeaways:

• Single-column layout: no tables, columns, or sidebars
• Standard headings: no creative names for sections
• Safe fonts and file types: Arial/Calibri, .docx preferred
• No graphics or headers/footers: ATS reads text only
• Run a simulator before every submission

None of this guarantees anything, but it cuts down on the common parsing problems.

Save the resume as a .docx and run it through a checker before you send it off.

If this helped, pass it along to someone hunting for work. Which formatting tip caught you off guard?

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About the Author

This guide was created by the team at Resumae, a dedicated career platform focused on helping job seekers optimize their resumes for modern hiring systems. Our content is researched and reviewed by career professionals with years of experience in recruitment and ATS technology.