Resume Tips
Before a recruiter ever opens your resume, it usually passes through an applicant tracking system (ATS) — software that scans, parses, and often ranks resumes based on how well they match a job description. A resume that would impress a human reviewer can still get filtered out if it confuses the software parsing it. Here is what actually matters.
Single column
Standard headings and plain text, read top to bottom.
Columns, text boxes, graphics
Text can be read out of order, or skipped entirely.
Illustrative wireframes. Software that scans resumes tends to read a single column in order, while columns, text boxes, and graphics can be read out of order or skipped.
Multi-column layouts, text boxes, tables, and graphics look sharp to a human eye but frequently break ATS parsing — the software can read columns out of order or skip text inside boxes entirely. Stick to a single column with clear section headings (Experience, Education, Skills) in a standard order.
Most ATS platforms score resumes partly on keyword overlap with the job description. If the posting says "project management," use that exact phrase somewhere in your resume rather than only a close synonym like "managed projects." This is not about keyword-stuffing — it is about describing your real experience using the same terms the employer used.
If you write "SEO," also include "search engine optimization" somewhere on the page. Some systems search for the exact term used in the job posting, and you do not know in advance whether that will be the acronym or the full phrase.
A .docx or a text-based PDF (not a scanned image or a PDF exported from a design tool with embedded graphics) is the safest choice. If a job posting gives you a format preference, follow it exactly — that instruction usually exists because their specific system handles one format more reliably than others.
The goal is not to "beat" the system — it is to remove unnecessary friction between your real experience and the person who will eventually read it.