ATS Resume Tips for 2026: Formatting, Parsing & Keywords

Use a file type accepted by the employer's application portal. Text-based PDF and DOCX files are commonly accepted, but there is no single format preference that applies to every employer or ATS configuration. Keep an editable source copy and review the uploaded file before submitting.

Avoid submitting a resume as a flattened image. A useful first check is whether you can select and copy the text in the document. This does not guarantee a successful parse, but it can reveal missing or scrambled text before you apply.

A simple, single-column layout with clear headings is a conservative choice when you do not know how a portal handles complex formatting. Greenhouse specifically lists columns, tables, headers, and footers among potential parsing issues; other systems may behave differently.

Clear labels such as Experience, Education, and Skills make a resume easier for a person to scan and can help software interpret its sections. If you use a creative heading, pair it with a familiar label rather than relying on a vague phrase alone.

A reverse-chronological experience section is a familiar format for many candidates, but choose the structure that best represents your background and follow any employer instructions. Keep dates, titles, organizations, and responsibilities easy to distinguish.

Keep your name and contact details in the main document body so they are easy to find. Greenhouse lists contact information placed in headers, footers, or text boxes as a possible cause of parsing problems; this behavior can differ across systems. Review the vendor guidance.

Place your contact information at the very top of the body page. Ensure your phone number follows standard formatting, your email address is professional, and your LinkedIn profile is stripped of tracking parameters.

For licensed professions (such as Registered Nurses, Professional Engineers, and Certified Public Accountants), always place your credential right next to your name (e.g., 'Sarah Jenkins, BSN, RN' or 'Brandon Cole, PE') and in your contact line so credential filters immediately recognize your legal qualifications.

Start with the skills and responsibilities the job description actually asks for. Use the same standard terms when they accurately describe your experience, and give enough context to show where and how you used each skill.

Do not hide keywords, repeat them unnaturally, or claim skills you do not have. A concise, truthful resume is easier for a recruiter to discuss with you and gives you concrete examples to explain in an interview.

Include a full term and its common acronym when both are relevant, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) This is a readability choice, not a promise that a search or screening system will rank the application higher.

An accomplishment-focused pattern can help you explain what changed, how you know, and what you did. One version associated with former Google executive Laszlo Bock is Accomplished X, as measured by Y, by doing Z. Treat it as a writing prompt, not a required resume format or an ATS-scoring technique. Background on the X-Y-Z example. If a reliable metric is unavailable, describe the scope or outcome without inventing a number.

Use the pattern only when it fits the accomplishment. If you cannot support a number, do not make one up; state the result in concrete terms you can explain.

Use the Resume Examples Hub to explore existing role-based resume examples. The examples are starting points; adapt them to your own experience and verify every claim before using it.

After tailoring your resume, prepare for related interview topics with the Interview Questions Hub or the System Design Interview Questions page.

Practical answers to common candidate questions about resume parsers and screening mechanics: