What an ATS does with your resume
The ATS extracts text from your file into fields — name, job titles, dates, skills. Recruiters then filter and search that data, often by keywords from the job description. A resume that parses cleanly and uses the right terms ranks higher in those searches.
Formatting that works
- One column, top to bottom.
- Standard headings: “Experience”, “Education”, “Skills”.
- Dates in a consistent format, such as “Mar 2023 – Present”.
- Contact details as plain text, not in the header/footer area or inside icons.
- Common fonts; no text inside images, tables or text boxes.
- PDF or DOCX — both are read by modern ATS software.
Keywords without stuffing
Use the exact names of tools, qualifications and job titles from the advert, where they are true for you. Put them in context in your bullets, not only in a skills list. Hiding keywords in white text is detected easily and gets resumes discarded.