Make an ATS-friendly resume
Designed for the software that reads it before a person does.
Large employers run applications through an applicant tracking system, which extracts your name, dates and skills from the file. Those systems read text in order, so the two column designs with icons and sidebars that look impressive often arrive as scrambled nonsense. This builds a single column document with real selectable text, plain headings and no graphics behind the words, which is what parses cleanly, and it still looks like a proper resume to a human.
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
- 1
Use plain section headings
Experience, Education, Skills. The parser is matching on ordinary words, so clever headings cost you more than they gain.
- 2
Write dates consistently
Use the same format throughout, such as Jan 2023 to Mar 2026. Inconsistent dates are the most common parsing failure.
- 3
Download as PDF
The text is real text, not a picture, so the system can read every word. Submit that file as it is.
Why the plain design is the strong one
A resume that a parser mangles is a resume that a human never sees, no matter how good the design. Plain structure is not a compromise here; it is what gets you to the part where a person reads it.
Frequently asked questions
Should I send a PDF or a Word file?+
Send what the posting asks for. If it does not say, a PDF with real text is safe with every modern system and keeps your layout intact, which a Word file does not.
Why is a two column layout a problem?+
Because the parser reads in document order, and a sidebar can end up interleaved with the main column. One clean column removes the risk entirely.
Do keywords matter?+
Yes. Use the words the job posting uses for skills and tools, in your bullet points where they are true. That is what the system scores against.
Is my resume uploaded to be checked?+
No. The document is built in your browser. Nothing is uploaded for analysis, which is more than most ATS checkers can say.