How to Build an ATS-Friendly Resume That Passes Screening
Learn the essential formatting rules, standard section headings, and keyword placement strategies that ensure your CV passes applicant tracking systems.
1. Use Standard Section Headings
ATS software looks for familiar section titles to accurately organize your experience, education, and skills. Use clear, widely accepted labels rather than creative alternatives.
- ✓Work Experience (or Professional Experience)
- ✓Education
- ✓Skills
- ✓Professional Summary
2. Keep the Formatting Clean and Linear
Modern parsers process documents from top to bottom. Complicated multi-column structures or text placed inside image boxes can scramble the reading order.
- ✓Stick to single-column or clean, semantic two-column layouts.
- ✓Use universal, readable fonts like Inter, Arial, or Roboto.
- ✓Export your resume as a standard PDF or Word DOCX format.
- ✓Avoid putting vital contact information in the document header or footer.
3. Naturally Include Relevant Keywords
Review the job description carefully and identify the recurring skills and qualifications. Integrate these terms naturally into your bullet points and skills section where they accurately reflect your experience.
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