Learn how to format your resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS) with these effective strategies, such as using keywords, skills, and standard sections.

Think of the ATS like your toaster. Your toaster will toast a boot if you cut it up in slices. But, it best toasts a single piece of standard sized bread. The ATS is the same. The more "fancification" (which I see in many "Award Winning" resumes) the more difficult it is for the ATS to "toast" (that is load in a tidy logical way) your resume. Resumes with photos, columns, thick blocks to texts, graphics, et al will get "toasted", but they'll get toasted awkwardly, just as a boot would be.

What are the most effective resume formatting strategies for ATS?

If you're applying for jobs online, chances are your resume will go through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before reaching a human recruiter. An ATS is a software that scans resumes for keywords, skills, and qualifications that match the job description. To increase your chances of passing the ATS and landing an interview, you need to format your resume strategically. Here are some of the most effective resume formatting strategies for ATS.

1 Use a simple and clear layout

Avoid using fancy fonts, graphics, tables, columns, or other elements that might confuse the ATS or make your resume look cluttered. Stick to a standard font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, and use a font size of 10 to 12 points. Use consistent spacing, margins, and headings to organize your resume into sections. Use bullet points to highlight your achievements and skills, and avoid using long paragraphs or sentences.

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Bernadette Pawlik

Career & Job Search Strategist, former retained executive recruiter
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Think of the ATS like your toaster. Your toaster will toast a boot if you cut it up in slices. But, it best toasts a single piece of standard sized bread. The ATS is the same. The more "fancification" (which I see in many "Award Winning" resumes) the more difficult it is for the ATS to "toast" (that is load in a tidy logical way) your resume. Resumes with photos, columns, thick blocks to texts, graphics, et al will get "toasted", but they'll get toasted awkwardly, just as a boot would be.

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Olivera Andjelkovic

HR Consultant ➡️ Executive Coaching, Employee Training and Development, People Management
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The ATS is (deliberately) misunderstood, obviously. The ATS varies by company. There are dozens of different ATS - some systems rank resumes based on meeting the requirement a recruiter typed in, and other systems only save all resumes. Recent ATS parse all formats well, even text boxes; also, many ATS show the resume document attached in its original form, as a part of the applicant's profile in the database. HUMANS decide to proceed or stop your application, not the ATS. So any promise that makes your resume "beat the ATS or pass the ATS" is just false.

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Lisa Rangel

Executive Resume Writer endorsed & hired by Recruiters | Ex-Executive Search Recruiter | 190+ monthly LinkedIn Recommendations over 10 years | FreeExecJobSearchTraining.com | M.E.T.A Job Landing System Creator
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In addition to the points above, be sure to use a reverse chronological format…and not a functional format. Most ATSs are able to parse reverse chronological resumes.

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2 Optimize your keywords and phrases

One of the main functions of an ATS is to match your resume with the keywords and phrases that are relevant to the job. To do this, you need to tailor your resume to each position you apply for, and use the same language and terminology as the job description. For example, if the job requires "project management" skills, use that exact phrase in your resume instead of synonyms like "team leadership" or "coordination". You can also use keyword tools like Jobscan or Resume Worded to analyze the job description and identify the most important keywords and phrases.

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Natasha Slepoy

Resume Writer & Career Change Coach💼 Helping you land your dream job with expert resumes, LinkedIn strategies, interview prep, and career coaching to empower your success. 🤝
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This is why it's so important to read the job ad carefully, ensuring your resume ticks many boxes. ATS are much better now than they used to be, however, it depends on their search parameters how they will view your resume. Using the same language as the job ad increases your chances of the right key words being highlighted when the "human" view the document.

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3 Include a skills section

A skills section is a great way to showcase your relevant and transferable skills that match the job requirements. It also helps the ATS to scan your resume for the skills that it's looking for. A skills section should be concise and specific, and include both hard and soft skills. For example, if you're applying for a marketing position, you might include skills like "SEO", "content creation", "social media management", and "communication". You can also use subheadings to group your skills into categories, such as "technical skills", "language skills", or "industry skills".

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4 Use standard section titles

Another way to make your resume easy to read and understand for the ATS is to use standard section titles that are commonly recognized and expected. For example, use titles like "Summary", "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills", or "Certifications". Avoid using creative or vague titles like "Career Highlights", "Professional Background", or "Accomplishments". Using standard section titles will help the ATS to locate and extract the relevant information from your resume.

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5 Save your resume as a compatible file type

The final step to formatting your resume for ATS is to save it as a compatible file type that the ATS can process and parse. The safest and most common file type is a plain text (.txt) file, which preserves the formatting and content of your resume without any extra features or codes. However, some ATS may also accept other file types, such as PDF (.pdf), Word (.doc or .docx), or Rich Text Format (.rtf). To be sure, check the instructions on the job posting or the company website, and follow them accordingly. Avoid using file types that are not compatible with most ATS, such as HTML (.html), JPEG (.jpg), or PowerPoint (.ppt).

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Vijita S.

Digital Transformation, Growth and Change Management Leader | Management Strategy Consultant Healthcare, Technology, Talent | Aspiring Venture Capital Investor & Platform Builder
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I would add that even while optimizing resumes for an ATS or another technology it still needs to be appropriate for human review and consumption.

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Monika Gambhir

🏆LinkedIn Top Voices In Resume Writing, Job Search Strategies & Career Counseling 2023-24 | Standout ATS-Compliant C-Level Resume/CV That Capture Attention & Highlight Your Unique Value | LinkedIn Make Over
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🚀🚀Always use a clean and structured layout using standard fonts like Arial or Calibri. 📌Organize content with clear headings (e.g., "Professional Experience," "Skills") and use bullet points for easy parsing. 📌Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description to align with the ATS criteria, enhancing your chances of passing through the system. 📌Keep it simple, avoid graphics or complex formatting, and save the file in a compatible format such as .docx or .pdf to ensure seamless processing by ATS. 🚀 Lastly, proofread meticulously to eliminate any errors and present a polished, professional document.

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What are the most effective resume formatting strategies for ATS?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Use a simple and clear layout

2 Optimize your keywords and phrases

3 Include a skills section

4 Use standard section titles

5 Save your resume as a compatible file type

6 Here’s what else to consider

Resume Writing

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What are the most effective resume formatting strategies for ATS?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Use a simple and clear layout

2 Optimize your keywords and phrases

3 Include a skills section

4 Use standard section titles

5 Save your resume as a compatible file type

6 Here’s what else to consider

Resume Writing

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