Overview
Most employers use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to scan resumes before a human sees them. To pass, use a clean ATS resume format (simple layout, standard fonts, DOCX or PDF), mirror job-description keywords, and follow a tight ATS resume checklist. Learn how to make your resume ats friendly with step by step guide and examples. Grab a free ATS-friendly resume template below and tailor it using an ATS resume builder or Word/Google Docs.
Table of Contents
What Is a Resume?
A resume is a concise professional snapshot that proves your fit for a role, who you are, what you’ve done, and the value you can deliver, mapped to the job description.
Key traits in 2026:
- One or two pages, max.
- Evidence-based (metrics, outcomes).
- Keyword-aligned to the job post.
- ATS-readable (clean structure, no design gimmicks).
What is Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that automates and streamlines the recruitment process. One of its purpose is collecting resumes to screening candidates and scheduling interviews. There is no universal ATS standard on how to score candidates, it vary by software. The ATS reads text in resume to extract key information, such as skills, experience, etc. It score your resume by matching job criteria and your resume keywords. Your goal should be writing a ATS friendly resume, when recruiter search a profile then you should come first.
ATS friendly resume means single column format, no graphics/unusual fonts/images. ATS can’t detect shading, so the colour scheme doesn’t matter. – Christy Career Coach
How to know for sure if ATS resume templates are really ATS friendly?
It’s really simple: keep your resume format and style simple and clean. Ensure that your resume reflects what they’re looking for (keywords, experience, and other essential criteria). Then you’re in with a good chance. The fanciest design will never matter more than the quality and relevance of your content. Intelligent CV app has professional templates, all the single column templates are ATS friendly.
These are all ATS-friendly (source: I work for a career services platform currently, have worked in the recruitment industry where I was a master ATS user, and also do video tips on the topic). But you’re right in that they don’t detect things like graphics, photos, fancy fonts, even underlines (the underlines and highlights are for making it easier for the human eye to detect and skim sections if the recruiter looks at the original resume). It’s always best to go for a clean, simple, easy-to-skim style that ATS can easily parse and recruiters can easily skim.
The intelligent CV app generates resumes from structured data in a practical way, making them easy to parse and visually appealing to recruiters. Trusted by over 60 million users, it ensures most CVs pass ATS screening, making your job application stand out effortlessly.
Why You Need an ATS-Friendly Resume
- Recruitment process: Most companies filter resumes and CVs with ATS first.
- Speed: Recruiters search ATS databases by keywords; if you match, you surface.
- Fair shot: An ATS-friendly resume template makes your content easy to parse so your skills appear in the right fields (skills, experience, education).
97.8% of Fortune 500 companies rely on ATS for initial candidate screening in 2025, equaling 489 out of 500 companies. It is expected to be 99.5% in 2026 due to rise of AI Screening.
How ATS Works and How an ATS-Friendly Resume Helps
- Parsing: ATS reads and phrases (name, title, dates, skills).
- Matching: It compares your content to keywords from the job description.
- Ranking: Higher keyword relevance + clear structure = higher rank for a human review.
How do I pass my resume through ATS?
Use a clean ATS resume format and naturally mirror the employer’s language (skills, tools, certifications).
The Best ATS Resume Format Guidelines
Use this as your baseline ATS resume, cv format:
- File: Use PDF (ATS-friendly).
- Fonts: Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Times New Roman, Helvetica (10–12 pt, headings 12–14 pt).
- Layout: One column, left-aligned. Avoid tables, text boxes, icons, images, or graphics.
- Sections: Summary, Skills, Experience, Education, Certifications, Projects.
- Bullets: 1–2 lines, start with action verbs, add numbers.
- Spacing: 0.5–1″ margins, clear line spacing, good white space.
- Links: Full URLs or clean hyperlinks (print-friendly).
- Length: 1 page (freshers/early career), 2 pages (7–10+ years).
Tip: If using a table, keep it simple, no nested tables.
The Ultimate Guide: Writing Each Resume Section for ATS Compliance
Contact Information (Top Section)
What to include:
- Full Name
- Job Title (Web Designer)
- Phone | Email | City, Country
- LinkedIn | Portfolio (must for design roles!)
Don’t use: photos, icons, graphics, multiple columns, or fun/unprofessional emails.
Example:
Riya Sharma – Web Designer
+91-9XXXXXXXXX | riya@email.com | Mumbai, IN
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/riyasharma | Portfolio: riya-portfolio.com
Professional Summary (2–4 lines)
Tailor this to the job and use keywords from the job post.
Example (Experienced):
Web Designer with 3+ years of experience creating user-friendly websites using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Figma. Designed responsive layouts that improved user engagement by 25%. Seeking to apply design skills and SEO knowledge at a growing digital agency.
Example (Fresher):
Creative Computer Science graduate with skills in HTML, CSS, Figma, and Canva. Designed 3 portfolio websites and university projects. Looking for an entry-level Web Designer role to build engaging, responsive websites.
Skills Section
Hard Skills (Tools & Tech):
- HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, Figma, WordPress
- Adobe XD, Photoshop, Responsive Design, SEO Basics
Soft Skills (Work Style):
- Creativity, Collaboration, Time Management, Attention to Detail
Keep it short: 2–3 lines or bullet points.
Work Experience (Most Important)
Format: Company | Job Title | Location | Dates
Add 3–5 bullet points per role.
Bullet Writing Formula: Action + What + Result + Tool/Skill
Example (Experienced):
ABC Designs | Web Designer | Pune | Jan 2022 – Present
- Designed and launched 10+ websites, improving client satisfaction by 30%.
- Created mobile-responsive layouts, reducing bounce rate by 20%.
- Collaborated with developers to optimize page load speed (HTML, CSS, JS).
Example (Fresher Internship):
XYZ Agency | Web Design Intern | Remote | Jun 2024 – Aug 2024
- Built 3 landing pages in WordPress, increasing lead form submissions by 18%.
- Designed UI mockups in Figma for client websites.
Education
Degree | Major | University | Year
Example:
B.Sc. in Computer Science | Mumbai University | 2023
Relevant Coursework: Web Development, UI/UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction
Projects (For Freshers & Portfolio Boost)
Showcase hands-on work.
Examples:
- Portfolio Website: Built personal portfolio using HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap.
- E-commerce Mockup: Designed a shopping website prototype in Figma.
- Blog Website: Created a responsive blog on WordPress with SEO-friendly design.
Certifications, Awards & Extras
- Certifications: Google UX Design, Coursera Web Development
- Awards: “Best Project Presentation – 2023”
- Languages: English (Fluent), Hindi (Native)
- Extras: Volunteered as Website Designer for NGO site revamp
Quick Checklist (Before Saving Your Resume)
Verify these checklist before uploading your resume
Single column resume
Stick to one column, left-aligned layout. Complex layout may leads to misinterpretation.
Avoid graphics, tables, or icons
ATS just read the text, it can’t understand fancy design.
Use simple fonts (Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, 10–12 pt)
Simple font is enough, there is no use in fancy fonts.
Use Keywords, action verbs + numbers in bullets
Keyword is king, use action verbs, numbers and list. Proper formatting helps ATS with LLM to structure the data.
Keep resume length: 1 page (fresher), 2 pages (experienced)
Keep your short and precise with important points so ATS can easily parse and recruiters can easily skim.
Save as PDF (ATS-friendly)
PDF preserves the structure and format. Best for online and supported by many ATS softwares.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overdesigned resumes or CV (columns, graphics, icons) that break parsing.
- Keyword stuffing or invisible text (ATS can flag this).
- Vague bullets without results (“Responsible for…”).
- Using uncommon section titles (“Journey,” “What I Do”).
- Saving only as image-based PDF (unreadable).
- Inconsistent dates, job titles, or company names.
Pro Tips & Techniques
Keyword Targeting (the heart of ATS)
- Collect keywords: Scan 3–5 similar JDs; note repeated skills, tools, and certifications.
- Map into sections:
- High-priority skills: Skills + Experience bullets
- Tools/tech: inside bullets with outcomes
- Certifications: Certifications section
- Use natural language: Write like a human; avoid blocks of comma soup.
- Synonyms help: e.g., Excel/MS Excel, Salesforce/SFDC if present in JD.
- Relevance first: Don’t include skills you can’t defend in an interview.
Resume keyword strategies have evolved: Modern ATS use natural language processing (NLP) and vector-based matching, so context and nuanced phrasing matter—”Python developer” and “Backend Development” are weighted for semantic relevance, not just direct keyword hits
Formatting Wins
- Use standard headings the ATS expects.
- Keep one column; align dates to the right using tabs/spaces (not text boxes).
- Prefer PDF for wide compatibility.
- Name your file like:
Firstname-Lastname-JobTitle-2026.pdf. - Use standard resume tools for formatting like intelligent CV app.
Content Polishing
- Start bullets with impact action verbs: Led, Built, Automated, Improved, Reduced, Launched.
- Add numbers (%, ₹, time saved, users served).
- Trim fluff; every line should prove fit for the target role.
Tools: Best ATS Resume Builder Options
- Word/Google Docs + Template: Full control, ATS-safe if formatted correctly.
- ATS Resume Builder Apps (e.g., Intelligent CV): Quick formatting + keyword prompts, great for both freshers and experienced; all templates are ATS-ready.
- Resume Scanners: Match your resume with the job description, showing missing keywords.
Rule of thumb: If a builder offers flashy icons, multi-column timelines, or heavy graphics, skip those themes. Choose the ATS-friendly resume template styles (single column, plain headings). If you use Intelligent CV, select professional templates and most preferably templates 1 to 7.
Free ATS-Friendly Resume Templates
Copy these into Word/Google Docs. They follow a clean ATS CV format you can customize.
Experienced (Chronological) ATS-Friendly Resume, CV Template
Download guide: Experienced (Chronological) ATS-Friendly Resume Template
B) Fresher/Student (Skills-First) ATS-Friendly Resume Template
Download guide: Fresher/Student (Skills-First) ATS-Friendly Resume Template
Final Takeaway
If you remember just three things:
- Use a simple ATS resume format (one column, standard fonts, DOCX or PDF).
- Mirror the job description with natural, relevant keywords.
- Prove impact with clear, quantified bullets then run the ATS resume checklist before you apply.
If you want, share your draft here. I’ll run a quick keyword gap scan and suggest improvements based on your target role.
FAQs
Should I submit resume as PDF?
Yes, use PDF as your default. PDF preserves your formatting precisely across all devices and software prevents formatting errors for both the ATS and the human reviewer.
Are tables and columns bad for ATS?
Most ATS can struggle with complex layouts. One-column, no text boxes is your safest bet.
How many keywords should I add?
As many as you can. Include the core skills and tools that appear repeatedly across similar JD spread naturally across Summary, Skills, and Experience bullets. I have seen few resumes with 150 keywords.
Can I use icons or graphics?
Avoid them. Many ATS can’t parse icons; they add no value.
One page or two page resume?
Early career: 1 page. Experienced: up to 2 pages if every line adds
Is Intelligent CV app ATS friendly?
Intelligent CV is ATS friendly and perfectly optimized for both software and humans.