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ATS · 8 min read

ATS Resume Format 2026: The Exact Layout That Parses Cleanly

ATS systems haven't changed as much as you think — but the formatting rules that beat them are sharper than ever. Here's the exact layout to use in 2026.

Layout

  • **Single column.**
  • **No headers or footers.** Put your contact info in the body.
  • **No tables.**
  • **No text boxes.**
  • **No images for text.**

Section order

  1. Contact header
  2. Summary (3-5 lines)
  3. Experience (reverse chronological)
  4. Education
  5. Skills (grouped)
  6. Optional: Projects, Certifications, Awards, Languages

Section headings — name them right

  • ✅ "Experience" or "Work Experience"
  • ✅ "Education"
  • ✅ "Skills" or "Technical Skills"
  • ❌ "Where I've Done My Thing"

Dates — consistent format

  • *Jan 2022 – Mar 2024*
  • *01/2022 – 03/2024*
  • *2022 – 2024*

Don't mix.

Bullets

  • Round bullet (•).
  • Indent consistently.
  • One bullet per line.

Font

  • Inter, Source Sans, IBM Plex Sans, Helvetica, Arial, Georgia, Source Serif.
  • 10.5–11pt body, 22–28pt name.
  • One font for the whole document.

File format

  • **PDF** for almost everything.
  • **DOCX** if the application form asks.
  • **NEVER** PNG, JPG, ZIP or pages.

What to remove

  • ❌ Multi-column layouts.
  • ❌ Sidebars.
  • ❌ Skill bars.
  • ❌ Icons.
  • ❌ Headers, footers, text boxes, tables.
  • ❌ Coloured backgrounds.

How to verify it parses

  1. Upload to [ResumAI's ATS score checker](/ats-score-checker).
  2. Read the parsed output.
  3. If something's scrambled, the issue is almost always layout.

TL;DR

  • Single column. Standard section names. Standard date format.
  • Round bullets, one font, 10.5–11pt body.
  • PDF (or DOCX if asked).
  • Always verify with a parser before sending.

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