What ATS software looks for
Applicant tracking systems parse resumes before a human sees them. They match keywords from the job description and score formatting that machines can read. Fancy layouts with text boxes and graphics often parse poorly, hiding your experience from the ranking step.
Formatting rules that help
- Use standard section headings: Experience, Education, Skills.
- Stick to one column for core content when possible.
- Save bullet points as plain text, not images.
- Include keywords from the posting naturally in your summary and skills.
- Export a clean PDF — not a photo of a printed page.
Build and export online
Our Resume Builder uses structured sections and live preview so you can see how the layout reads before download. Choose Classic or Modern templates and keep the Compact template in mind if you need a one-page resume.
Before you apply
Open the PDF and try selecting text with your cursor. If you cannot select words, ATS may struggle too. Merge the resume with a cover letter using Merge PDF when the portal allows only one file. Compress with Compress PDF if the upload rejects the size.
Read our full guide on merging PDFs for job applications for page-order tips.