ATS-Friendly Resume Checklist: 12 Things to Check Before You Apply

Most mid-size and large employers use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to collect, organize, and search the resumes they receive. A person still makes the hiring decision, but the software decides how your resume is stored and how easily a recruiter can find it. The good news is that a clear, simple resume works well for both software and people.

No template can promise how every employer's system will read your file. What you can do is remove the common problems. Run through this checklist before you click Apply.

The 12-point checklist

1. Use a single-column layout

Two-column and multi-column layouts can scramble the reading order when software extracts the text. A single column, read top to bottom, is the safest choice.

2. Use standard section headings

Stick to familiar labels such as Professional Summary, Work Experience, Education, and Skills. Creative headings like "My Journey" make it harder for software to sort your information.

3. Choose a common font

Fonts such as Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman, and Georgia are widely available and read cleanly. Use 10 to 12 points for body text.

4. Keep important details out of headers, footers, text boxes, and tables

Some systems skip these areas. Put your name and contact details in the main body of the page, and use plain paragraphs and bullet points for everything else.

5. Skip images, icons, and graphics

Photos, skill bars, star ratings, and icons cannot be read as text. Describe your skills in words instead.

6. Use standard bullet points

Simple round bullets are fine. Decorative symbols may turn into odd characters when the text is extracted.

7. Write dates in a consistent format

Pick one style, such as Mar 2021 - Present, and use it throughout. Consistent dates help software and readers build your timeline.

8. Mirror the language of the job posting

If the posting asks for "project management" and "stakeholder communication," and you have that experience, use those exact phrases. Use only terms that are true for you, and place them naturally in your bullets and skills section instead of stuffing them in a list.

9. Spell out acronyms once

Write "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)" the first time. This way the resume matches whether a recruiter searches for the full term or the abbreviation.

10. Lead your bullets with results

Compare "Responsible for scheduling" with "Cut scheduling conflicts by 30% by moving the team to a shared calendar." Use real numbers when you have them, and plain facts when you do not.

11. Save in the right file format and give it a clear name

Follow the instructions in the job posting. If none are given, a Word (.docx) file or a text-based PDF is usually fine. Name the file something like First-Last-Resume.docx.

12. Do a copy-and-paste test

Open your resume, select all, and paste it into a plain text editor. If the order is jumbled, words are missing, or characters look strange, simplify the formatting and test again.

A note on length and design

Simple does not have to mean boring. Clear spacing, consistent bold headings, and a clean font can look polished while staying easy to read. If you are not sure whether to use one page or two, a good rule is to use one page for early-career roles and two pages when you have enough relevant experience to fill it.

Save time with a ready-made layout

If you would rather not build the formatting yourself, our ATS-Friendly Resume Templates include five single-column designs in 1-page and 2-page versions, ready to edit in Word, Google Docs, or Apple Pages. Want a matching cover letter and references page too? See the Resume + Cover Letter + References Bundle.

Templates and guides are writing and organizing aids. They do not guarantee interviews or job offers, and every employer's system works a little differently.