ATS 6 min readJanuary 5, 2025

ATS-Friendly Resume Format: What Works in 2025

The exact formatting rules that help your resume pass through any ATS system.

The ATS-Friendly Format Rules

Layout

  • Single column — Multi-column layouts confuse parsers
  • Standard margins — 0.5" to 1" on all sides
  • Consistent spacing — Use uniform spacing between sections
  • No tables or text boxes — ATS can't read content inside these

    • Fonts

  • Size: 10-12pt for body, 14-16pt for your name
  • Safe fonts: Arial, Calibri, Garamond, Georgia, Helvetica, Times New Roman
  • Avoid: Script fonts, decorative fonts, or anything below 10pt

    • Section Order (Recommended)

  • Contact Information
  • Professional Summary
  • Work Experience
  • Education
  • Skills
  • Certifications (optional)

    • Section Headings

    Use standard, recognizable headings. ATS systems look for these exact terms:

  • ✅ "Work Experience" not "Where I've Been"
  • ✅ "Education" not "Academic Journey"
  • ✅ "Skills" not "What I'm Good At"

    • File Format

  • Best: .docx (universally compatible)
  • Good: .pdf (most modern ATS handle these)
  • Avoid: .pages, .odt, images, or scanned documents

    • What NOT to Include

  • Photos or headshots
  • Graphics, charts, or icons
  • Headers and footers (ATS often can't read these)
  • Special characters or emojis

    • Free ATS-Friendly Templates

    All ResumeFlow AI templates are ATS-tested and optimized. Every template scores 90%+ on ATS compatibility. Browse templates →

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