An ATS-friendly resume is simply one that can be accurately parsed by Applicant Tracking Systems. The good news: ATS-friendly formatting also tends to be clean and professional-looking to human readers. You're not choosing between looking good and being ATS-compatible — you can achieve both.
Layout rules: Use a single-column layout. While two-column designs look elegant, many ATS systems read content in a linear top-to-bottom fashion and may jumble two-column content. If you must use two columns, keep it to the header area only (e.g., contact details side by side). The main body should be strictly single-column. Use standard margins (0.5-1 inch) and consistent spacing between sections.
Typography rules: Stick to standard system fonts — Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, or Times New Roman. Avoid decorative fonts, custom fonts embedded in PDFs, or font sizes below 10pt. Use 10-12pt for body text and 12-14pt for section headings. Bold for headings and job titles is fine. Avoid using color for critical text — some ATS systems render everything in black and white.
Content structure rules: Use standard section headings exactly as ATS parsers expect them: 'Professional Summary' or 'Summary,' 'Work Experience' or 'Experience,' 'Education,' 'Skills,' 'Certifications.' Start bullet points with standard round bullets or hyphens — avoid arrows, checkmarks, or custom symbols. Keep your contact information in the main body of the document, not in headers or footers — many ATS systems skip header/footer content.
File format: PDF is recommended for most applications. Ensure the PDF is text-based (not a scanned image). Test by pressing Ctrl+A in the PDF — if all text gets selected, it's text-based. DOCX is your backup for portals that specifically require it.