← All GuidesATS-Friendly Resume Format
6 min read
The best resume format for ATS is simple: one column, clear section labels, standard fonts, and a file type the parser can read without errors.
Best File Types
- PDF — Preferred when generated from Word or Google Docs (not scanned images)
- DOCX — Widely supported; good fallback if PDF parsing fails
- Avoid — JPG/PNG scans, Canva exports with text as images, password-protected files
Layout Rules
- Single column — no sidebars or multi-column templates
- Standard margins (0.5–1 inch)
- Left-aligned text; avoid justified text in narrow columns
- No tables for layout — use simple line breaks instead
- Put contact info in the body, not only in a header graphic
Section Headings ATS Recognizes
Use conventional labels:
- Summary or Professional Summary
- Experience or Work Experience
- Education
- Skills or Technical Skills
Creative headings like "My Journey" or "What I Bring" may not map to the fields ATS expects.
Fonts and Size
Stick to Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Times New Roman, or Helvetica at 10–12 pt for body text and 14–18 pt for your name. Fancy script fonts often fail OCR and parsing.
Length
One page for early-career candidates; two pages is fine for 10+ years of experience. ATS does not penalize length directly, but recruiters prefer focused documents.