What is an ATS-friendly resume?

An ATS-friendly resume is formatted and written to be easily read by Applicant Tracking Systems. It uses standard section headings, simple formatting, relevant keywords, and avoids graphics or complex layouts that ATS can't parse. 75% of resumes get rejected by ATS due to poor formatting.

What font should I use for an ATS resume?

Use standard, professional fonts: Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Times New Roman, or Georgia. Font size should be 10-12pt for body text, 14-16pt for headings. Avoid decorative, script, or unusual fonts that ATS may not recognize.

Should my ATS resume be 1 page or 2 pages?

1 page for 0-5 years experience, 2 pages for 5-15 years, 3 pages for executive/senior roles (15+ years). ATS doesn't penalize longer resumes, but human recruiters prefer concise ones. Quality over quantity - remove fluff.

Can I use tables or columns in my ATS resume?

No. ATS reads left-to-right, top-to-bottom. Tables and multi-column layouts confuse the parsing order, causing ATS to misread your content. Use a simple single-column format with clear sections.

Should I include a photo on my ATS resume?

No (in US/UK). ATS can't read photos, and they take up valuable space. In some European/Asian countries, photos are expected - research local norms. For US jobs, never include a photo.

What sections are required in an ATS resume?

Required: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Work Experience, Education, Skills. Optional but recommended: Certifications, Projects, Publications (if relevant). Use standard section names like "Work Experience" not "My Journey".

How do I list my contact information for ATS?

Put contact info at the top of the resume (not in header/footer). Include: Full Name, Phone Number, Email, LinkedIn URL, City/State. Avoid: Full address, photo, age, marital status, or personal social media.

Should I use bullet points or paragraphs?

Bullet points! They're easier for both ATS and humans to scan. Start each bullet with an action verb, include quantified achievements, and keep bullets to 1-2 lines max. Aim for 3-5 bullets per job.

How many keywords should be in my ATS resume?

Include 15-25 highly relevant keywords distributed naturally throughout your resume. Focus on keywords from the job description, especially those listed as "required" or mentioned multiple times.

Can I use a resume template for ATS?

Yes, but choose simple, single-column templates with standard formatting. Avoid: Canva templates with graphics, two-column layouts, creative designs, or templates with text boxes. Stick to basic Word/Google Docs templates.

How to Write an ATS-Friendly Resume in 2025

Step-by-step guide to creating resumes that pass ATS and land interviews

Updated for 2025 with templates, examples, and proven formatting tips

The ATS Resume Formula

Simple Format + Right Keywords + Quantified Achievements = Interview

Follow this formula and you'll beat 75% of candidates who get automatically rejected. Not sure where to start? Try our free ATS resume checker first.

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Simple Format

Single column, standard fonts, no graphics

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Right Keywords

Mirror language from job description. Learn how →

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Quantified Results

Numbers, percentages, metrics

Step-by-Step: Writing Your ATS Resume

Contact Information

Place at the top of your resume (not in header/footer)

✅ GOOD Example

John Smith
(555) 123-4567
john.smith@email.com
linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
San Francisco, CA

✓ Full name
✓ Phone number
✓ Professional email
✓ LinkedIn URL
✓ City and state

❌ BAD Example

Johnny S. | Born 1995
123 Main Street, Apt 4B, SF, CA 94102
coolJohnny95@yahoo.com
@johnsmith | facebook.com/john
[Photo]

✗ Nicknames or initials
✗ Full street address
✗ Unprofessional email
✗ Personal social media
✗ Photo (in US)

Professional Summary

2-3 sentences highlighting your value proposition with keywords

✅ GOOD Example (Software Engineer)

"Senior Software Engineer with 5+ years of experience developing scalable web applications using Python, React, and AWS. Led development of SaaS products using Agile methodologies, improving system performance by 40% and reducing costs by $200K annually. Expertise in microservices architecture, CI/CD pipelines, and team leadership."

• Include job title or target role
• Mention years of experience if relevant
• Add 3-5 high-priority keywords (bolded above)
• Include 1-2 quantified achievements
• Keep to 2-3 sentences maximum

Skills Section

List 10-15 relevant skills in order of importance

✅ GOOD Example

Technical Skills: Python, JavaScript, React, Node.js, AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda), Docker, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Git/GitHub, REST APIs, GraphQL
Methodologies: Agile/Scrum, CI/CD, Microservices, Test-Driven Development (TDD)
Soft Skills: Team Leadership, Cross-functional Collaboration, Problem-solving, Mentoring

✓ Separate technical and soft skills
✓ List most important skills first
✓ Use exact terms from job description
✓ Include both tools and methodologies
✗ Don't rate yourself (e.g., "Expert in Python")
✗ Avoid vague terms ("Fast learner", "Team player")

Work Experience

Use action verbs, quantify achievements, include keywords

✅ GOOD Example

Senior Software Engineer | Tech Company Inc. | Jan 2020 - Present

•Led team of 5 engineers to develop React-based customer dashboard, increasing user engagement by 35% and reducing support tickets by 50%
•Architected microservices infrastructure using AWS Lambda and Docker, improving API response time by 60% and saving $150K annually in server costs
•Implemented CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions, reducing deployment time from 2 hours to 15 minutes and decreasing production bugs by 40%
•Mentored 3 junior developers through code reviews and pair programming, resulting in 2 promotions within 12 months

✅ DO:

✓ Start with action verbs
✓ Include numbers and metrics
✓ Add specific technologies used
✓ Show impact and results
✓ Use past tense (except current job)

❌ DON'T:

✗ Write paragraphs
✗ Use vague descriptions
✗ List job duties only
✗ Include irrelevant jobs
✗ Use personal pronouns (I, me, my)

Education

Include degree, institution, graduation year, relevant coursework if recent grad

✅ GOOD Example

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University of California, Berkeley | Graduated May 2018 | GPA: 3.8/4.0
Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Database Systems

• Spell out degree name (not "BS in CS")
• Include GPA if above 3.5 and recent grad
• Add honors/awards if relevant
• List coursework only if recent grad or career changer

ATS Formatting Rules You Must Follow

Use Standard Fonts

✅DO: Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Times New Roman, Georgia

❌DON'T: Comic Sans, Papyrus, decorative fonts, custom fonts

Single Column Layout

✅DO: One column from top to bottom

❌DON'T: Two columns, sidebars, text boxes

Standard Section Headings

✅DO: "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills"

❌DON'T: "My Journey", "What I Know", "Career Path"

No Graphics or Images

✅DO: Text only, bullet points, standard formatting

❌DON'T: Charts, graphs, icons, photos, logos

Simple Bullet Points

✅DO: Standard bullets (•) or dashes (-)

❌DON'T: Custom symbols, checkmarks, stars, arrows

Standard File Format

✅DO: .docx or simple PDF (native, not scanned)

❌DON'T: Scanned PDF, image files, .pages, .odt

Contact Info in Body

✅DO: Name and contact at top of first page

❌DON'T: Contact info in header/footer only

Consistent Date Formatting

✅DO: "Jan 2020 - Dec 2022" throughout

❌DON'T: Mixed formats: "1/20 - 12/2022", "2020-2022"

100+ Action Verbs for Your Resume

Leadership

•Led
•Managed
•Directed
•Supervised
•Coordinated
•Orchestrated
•Spearheaded
•Mentored
•Delegated
•Facilitated

Achievement

•Achieved
•Accomplished
•Exceeded
•Delivered
•Surpassed
•Attained
•Completed
•Executed
•Fulfilled
•Realized

Improvement

•Optimized
•Streamlined
•Enhanced
•Improved
•Upgraded
•Modernized
•Revamped
•Transformed
•Refined
•Strengthened

Creation

•Developed
•Built
•Created
•Designed
•Engineered
•Established
•Launched
•Implemented
•Pioneered
•Initiated

Analysis

•Analyzed
•Evaluated
•Assessed
•Investigated
•Researched
•Examined
•Identified
•Diagnosed
•Measured
•Audited

Communication

•Presented
•Communicated
•Collaborated
•Consulted
•Negotiated
•Influenced
•Advocated
•Articulated
•Briefed
•Convinced

Financial

•Reduced
•Saved
•Generated
•Increased
•Maximized
•Minimized
•Budgeted
•Forecasted
•Allocated
•Secured

Technical

•Programmed
•Coded
•Automated
•Integrated
•Migrated
•Deployed
•Architected
•Configured
•Debugged
•Tested

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How to Write an ATS-Friendly Resume in 2025

The ATS Resume Formula

Simple Format

Right Keywords

Quantified Results

Step-by-Step: Writing Your ATS Resume

Contact Information

Professional Summary

Skills Section

Work Experience

Education

ATS Formatting Rules You Must Follow

Use Standard Fonts

Single Column Layout

Standard Section Headings

No Graphics or Images

Simple Bullet Points

Standard File Format

Contact Info in Body

Consistent Date Formatting

100+ Action Verbs for Your Resume

Leadership

Achievement

Improvement

Creation

Analysis

Communication

Financial

Technical

ATS Resume Checklist - Before You Submit

Skip the Manual Work - Let AI Write Your ATS Resume

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