What is the best resume format for ATS in 2025?

The reverse-chronological format is the best for ATS systems. It lists your most recent experience first and is preferred by 90% of recruiters. ATS can easily parse chronological formats, and hiring managers can quickly assess your career progression. Avoid functional formats as they often get flagged or rejected by ATS.

Should I use a functional or chronological resume?

Use chronological unless you have significant career gaps or are changing industries. Chronological resumes have 3x higher callback rates because recruiters and ATS prefer them. Functional resumes (skills-based) often raise red flags about employment gaps and are harder for ATS to parse.

What is a hybrid resume format?

A hybrid (combination) resume merges chronological and functional formats. It starts with a skills summary, followed by reverse-chronological work experience. This works well for career changers or those with diverse skills, but must be carefully structured to remain ATS-friendly.

Can I use a two-column resume format?

No, avoid two-column formats for ATS applications. ATS reads left-to-right, top-to-bottom, so columns get scrambled. A contact info sidebar will merge with your summary text, creating gibberish. Stick to single-column format for online applications.

Should I save my resume as PDF or Word?

Both work, but follow the job posting instructions. If unspecified, use PDF to preserve formatting. Modern ATS systems (post-2020) parse PDFs well. Avoid scanned PDFs or image-based PDFs - text must be selectable. Word (.docx) is safest for older ATS systems.

How long should my resume be?

1 page for <10 years experience, 2 pages for 10+ years. Never exceed 2 pages unless applying for academic/research positions. ATS has no length preference, but recruiters spend 6-7 seconds per resume - keep it concise and relevant.

What font should I use for ATS resumes?

Use standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Helvetica in 10-12pt. Avoid decorative fonts (Papyrus, Comic Sans, script fonts) as ATS may misread them. Stick to black text on white background for maximum readability.

Should I include a photo on my resume?

No, especially not for US/UK/Canadian applications. Photos: (1) confuse ATS parsing, (2) increase bias concerns, (3) waste valuable space. In EU countries where photos are expected, use a separate CV format. For ATS applications, no photo.

Where should I put keywords in my resume?

Place keywords in: (1) Skills section - most important for ATS, (2) Work experience bullet points - shows practical application, (3) Summary - provides context. Never keyword-stuff with white text or hidden text - ATS flags this as spam.

Can I use resume templates from Microsoft Word or Google Docs?

Most Word/Docs templates are NOT ATS-friendly. They use tables, text boxes, and columns that break ATS parsing. If you use a template, test it with an ATS checker first. Better option: Use JAO to generate ATS-optimized resumes automatically.

Updated for 2025 ATS Standards

Best Resume Format 2025 - What Works for ATS

Q: How long should my resume be?

1 page for <10 years experience, 2 pages for 10+ years. Never exceed 2 pages unless applying for academic/research positions. ATS has no length preference, but recruiters spend 6-7 seconds per resume - keep it concise and relevant.

Q: What font should I use for ATS resumes?

Use standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Helvetica in 10-12pt. Avoid decorative fonts (Papyrus, Comic Sans, script fonts) as ATS may misread them. Stick to black text on white background for maximum readability.

Q: Should I include a photo on my resume?

No, especially not for US/UK/Canadian applications. Photos: (1) confuse ATS parsing, (2) increase bias concerns, (3) waste valuable space. In EU countries where photos are expected, use a separate CV format. For ATS applications, no photo.

Q: Where should I put keywords in my resume?

Place keywords in: (1) Skills section - most important for ATS, (2) Work experience bullet points - shows practical application, (3) Summary - provides context. Never keyword-stuff with white text or hidden text - ATS flags this as spam.

Q: Can I use resume templates from Microsoft Word or Google Docs?

Most Word/Docs templates are NOT ATS-friendly. They use tables, text boxes, and columns that break ATS parsing. If you use a template, test it with an ATS checker first. Better option: Use JAO to generate ATS-optimized resumes automatically.

Choose the right resume format and 3x your interview callback rate

Chronological vs Functional vs Hybrid - which format gets past ATS and impresses recruiters?

🎯

Quick Answer

The reverse-chronological format is the best for 90% of job seekers. It lists your most recent experience first, is preferred by recruiters, and passes ATS systems with 95% success rate.

Only use functional or hybrid formats if you have significant career gaps, are changing industries, or have non-linear career progression.

The 3 Main Resume Formats

1. Reverse-Chronological Format

RECOMMENDED

Most recent experience first → older experience last

✅ Pros

•Preferred by 90% of recruiters and hiring managers
•95% ATS compatibility rate
•Shows clear career progression
•Easy for recruiters to scan quickly
•Highlights recent, relevant experience

❌ Cons

•Exposes employment gaps clearly
•Less ideal for career changers
•Emphasizes job titles over skills
•May show too many short-term positions

📋 Structure Example:

Contact Information

Professional Summary (2-3 sentences)

Skills (bullet points or columns)

Work Experience (reverse chronological)

• Most Recent Job (2023-Present)
• Previous Job (2021-2023)
• Earlier Job (2019-2021)

Education (reverse chronological)

Certifications (optional)

✅ Best For:

Traditional career paths, consistent work history, staying in the same industry, promotions/growth trajectory, recent graduates

2. Functional (Skills-Based) Format

USE WITH CAUTION

Skills and abilities first → brief work history

✅ Pros

•Hides employment gaps and job-hopping
•Highlights transferable skills
•Good for career changers
•Focuses on abilities over timeline

❌ Cons

•Red flag for recruiters - assumes you're hiding something
•Only 40% ATS compatibility
•Harder to verify experience
•Often auto-rejected by ATS
•3x lower callback rate than chronological

📋 Structure Example:

Contact Information

Professional Summary

Core Competencies / Skills (grouped by category)

• Leadership Skills: (achievements/examples)
• Technical Skills: (achievements/examples)
• Communication Skills: (achievements/examples)

Work History (brief list with titles and dates)

• Company Name, Job Title, Dates
• Company Name, Job Title, Dates

Education

⚠️ Best For:

Significant career gaps (2+ years), multiple career changes, re-entering workforce after long break, diverse freelance/consulting work

🚫 Warning:

Many recruiters immediately reject functional resumes. Consider hybrid format instead if you need to highlight skills while maintaining chronological work history.

3. Hybrid (Combination) Format

GOOD COMPROMISE

Skills summary → chronological work history

✅ Pros

•Combines best of both formats
•80% ATS compatibility (if structured properly)
•Highlights skills without hiding experience
•Good for career transitions
•Shows both skills and career progression

❌ Cons

•Longer than chronological format
•Can be repetitive if not done well
•Harder to structure for ATS
•Takes more space (may exceed 1 page)

📋 Structure Example:

Contact Information

Professional Summary (career transition focus)

Core Skills / Key Competencies (3-6 categories)

• Project Management: Brief achievements
• Data Analysis: Brief achievements
• Team Leadership: Brief achievements

Professional Experience (reverse chronological)

• Job Title, Company, Dates
- Achievement bullets
• Job Title, Company, Dates
- Achievement bullets

Education

Certifications (if relevant to transition)

✅ Best For:

Career changers, diverse skill sets, transferring from different industries, senior professionals with broad experience, consultants/freelancers

💡 Pro Tip:

Keep skills section brief (3-5 categories max) and ensure chronological work history is still prominent. This maintains ATS compatibility while highlighting transferable skills.

Quick Comparison Table

Factor	Chronological	Functional	Hybrid
ATS Compatibility	95% ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	40% ⭐⭐	80% ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recruiter Preference	Very High (90%)	Low (20%)	Medium (60%)
Hides Employment Gaps	No	Yes	Partially
Shows Career Progression	Excellent	Poor	Good
Highlights Skills	Moderate	Excellent	Good
Interview Callback Rate	15-25%	5-10%	12-18%
Best For	Traditional careers	Career gaps	Career changers

Which Format Should You Use?

1️⃣ Do you have employment gaps of 1+ years?

✓ YES

Consider: Hybrid or Functional (if gaps > 2 years)

✗ NO

Use: Chronological

2️⃣ Are you changing careers or industries?

✓ YES

Consider: Hybrid (best balance)

✗ NO

Use: Chronological

3️⃣ Do you have consistent work history with clear progression?

✓ YES

Definitely use: Chronological

✗ NO

Consider: Hybrid

4️⃣ Have you job-hopped with 5+ jobs in 5 years?

✓ YES

Consider: Functional (risky) or group jobs by project in Hybrid

✗ NO

Use: Chronological

📊 Data-Backed Recommendation:

If you answered NO to all questions → use Chronological (95% ATS success, 3x higher callbacks)
If you answered YES to 1-2 questions → use Hybrid (80% ATS success, good compromise)
If you answered YES to 3+ questions → consider Functional (but expect lower callback rate)

ATS-Friendly Formatting Rules (All Formats)

✅ Do This

✓Use single-column layout
✓Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) 10-12pt
✓Standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills)
✓Save as PDF (text-based) or .docx
✓Use bullet points for achievements
✓Include keywords from job description
✓Use consistent date format (MM/YYYY)
✓Black text on white background
✓Left-align all text
✓Use simple line separators (optional)

❌ Don't Do This

✗Two or three-column layouts
✗Decorative fonts, script fonts, or <10pt size
✗Creative section names ("Where I've Been")
✗Scanned PDFs or image-based documents
✗Dense paragraphs instead of bullets
✗Keyword stuffing or white text tricks
✗Inconsistent date formats (2023, 23, 2023-24)
✗Colors, graphics, photos, or logos
✗Text boxes, tables, or headers/footers
✗Special characters or emoji

Real-World Results by Format

Chronological Format

Sarah, Marketing Manager

Jobs Applied:50

Callbacks:12

Success Rate:24%

"Straightforward format. Recruiters called me within days of applying."

Functional Format

Mike, Career Changer

Jobs Applied:50

Callbacks:4

Success Rate:8%

"Recruiters questioned my employment history. Switched to hybrid and got better results."

Hybrid Format

Jennifer, Senior Consultant

Jobs Applied:50

Callbacks:9

Success Rate:18%

"Perfect balance. Showed skills while maintaining credibility with work history."

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Best Resume Format 2025 - What Works for ATS

Quick Answer

The 3 Main Resume Formats

1. Reverse-Chronological Format

✅ Pros

❌ Cons

📋 Structure Example:

2. Functional (Skills-Based) Format

✅ Pros

❌ Cons

📋 Structure Example:

3. Hybrid (Combination) Format

✅ Pros

❌ Cons

📋 Structure Example:

Quick Comparison Table

Which Format Should You Use?

1️⃣ Do you have employment gaps of 1+ years?

2️⃣ Are you changing careers or industries?

3️⃣ Do you have consistent work history with clear progression?

4️⃣ Have you job-hopped with 5+ jobs in 5 years?

ATS-Friendly Formatting Rules (All Formats)

✅ Do This

❌ Don't Do This

Real-World Results by Format

Chronological Format

Functional Format

Hybrid Format

Generate ATS-Optimized Resume in Your Chosen Format

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Resources

How to Write ATS Resume

Resume Keywords Guide

ATS Resume Checker

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ATS Resume Checker

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Resume Examples

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