ATS-Friendly Resume Format: The Complete 2025 Guide

ATS-Friendly Resume Format: The Complete 2025 Guide

Your resume content might be perfect, but if it's formatted wrong, it'll never get past the ATS. In this comprehensive guide, we'll show you exactly how to format your resume for maximum ATS compatibility.

Why Resume Format Matters for ATS

Applicant Tracking Systems parse resumes by identifying patterns and structure. When your formatting is too complex, the ATS can't extract your information correctly.

The harsh reality:

• A beautifully designed resume with graphics might score 0% on ATS


• A plain, well-structured resume could score 90%+

The Foundation: File Format and Document Setup

Choose the Right File Type

Best options:

• .docx (Microsoft Word) - The gold standard


• .pdf - Generally safe with modern ATS

Avoid:

• .jpg, .png, or image files


• .pages (Mac format)

Document Margins and Spacing

• Margins: 0.5 to 1 inch on all sides


• Line spacing: 1.0 to 1.15


• Page length: 1-2 pages for most professionals

Typography: Fonts, Sizes, and Styles

ATS-Safe Fonts

Highly recommended:

• Arial


• Calibri


• Garamond


• Georgia


• Times New Roman

Font Sizing

• Your name: 16-20 points (bold)


• Section headers: 12-14 points (bold)


• Body text: 10-12 points

Resume Structure: The Right Order

1. Contact Information (Header)

Include:

• Full name


• City and state


• Phone number


• Email address


• LinkedIn profile URL

2. Professional Summary

A 2-4 line summary of your experience and value proposition.

Example:
"Results-driven Marketing Manager with 7+ years of experience leading digital campaigns for B2B SaaS companies. Proven track record of increasing lead generation by 150% and reducing customer acquisition costs by 30%."

3. Work Experience

Proper format:

• Job title first (bold)


• Company name and location


• Dates in consistent format


• Bullet points starting with action verbs


• Include metrics when possible

4. Education

• Degree name


• School name


• Graduation date


• GPA (if 3.5+)

5. Skills

Group related skills together:

• Technical Skills


• Marketing Skills


• Soft Skills

What to AVOID: ATS Formatting Killers

1. Tables

Never use tables for your main content.

2. Columns

Multiple columns create parsing problems.

3. Text Boxes and Shapes

Content inside them might be skipped entirely.

4. Headers and Footers

Don't put important information here.

5. Graphics and Images

ATS cannot read images.

Section Headers: Keep Them Standard

Use these:

• Summary or Professional Summary


• Work Experience or Professional Experience


• Education


• Skills or Technical Skills

Avoid creative headers like:

• "My Journey"


• "What I Know"


• "Where I Learned"

Testing Your Format

The Copy-Paste Test

Copy your entire resume

Paste into a plain text editor (Notepad)

Is everything readable and in order?

If not, your format needs work.

Final Formatting Checklist

• Saved as .docx or PDF


• Standard font (Arial, Calibri, etc.)


• Font size 10-12 for body


• Single column layout


• No tables, text boxes, or columns


• No images or graphics


• Standard section headers


• Contact info not in header/footer


• Consistent date formatting

Use CVCraft to Perfect Your Format

CVCraft makes it easy to check your formatting:

• Format Checker: Automatically scan for formatting issues


• Real-time Preview: See how ATS systems will parse your resume


• Instant Feedback: Get specific suggestions to fix problems

Stop guessing and start knowing. Try CVCraft's free ATS resume checker today.