ATS-Friendly Resume
An ATS-friendly resume is one formatted so an Applicant Tracking System can read it accurately. It uses a single-column layout, standard section headings, common fonts, and plain text instead of tables, columns, images, or graphics — so no content is lost when the resume is parsed.
What makes a resume ATS-friendly
The goal is simple: every word you write should survive parsing. That means a single-column structure (ATS often reads two columns as one jumbled stream), standard headings the parser recognises, and plain text for anything important. Decorative elements — icons, photos, charts, skill bars — either get dropped or turned into garbled characters. Stick to a common font and submit in the format the listing requests.
Build one without the guesswork
You don’t need to fight formatting manually. FundoCareer’s resume builder uses structurally validated, ATS-clean templates, and you can confirm any resume with a free ATS score check before you apply.
Examples
- ATS-friendly: a clean reverse-chronological resume with a plain skills line.
- Not ATS-friendly: a designer template with two columns and a sidebar of icons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Put this into a real resume
Build an ATS-ready resume with FundoCareer — free templates, instant scoring.
Build My Resume →Reviewed by FundoCareer Team, ATS Optimization & Recruitment Systems Experts · Updated 18 June 2026.