ATS Resume Format: What Works Best in 2026

Finding the Perfect Resume Format for ATS Success in 2026

Your resume format can make or break your chances of landing an interview. In fact, studies show that approximately ATS filters reject 75% of applications before they even reach a human recruiter. This underscores the importance of not just what you say but how you present it. In this post, we’ll explore the best resume formats for success with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) in 2026, ensuring your qualifications are front and center.

Why Format Matters to ATS

Applicant Tracking Systems use algorithms to parse and evaluate resumes based on specific structural expectations. When your resume deviates from these norms, you risk:

• Missed Information: Critical details may be overlooked.
• Data Misclassification: Achievements might end up in the wrong sections.
• Content Scrambling: The order of your information could become jumbled.
• Low Ranking Scores: Your resume might score poorly in the ATS.

Choosing the right format is essential for ensuring that your experience and skills are accurately captured.

The Three Main Resume Formats

1. Chronological Format (Best for ATS)

The chronological format lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, showcasing your career progression effectively. This layout is the most ATS-friendly for several reasons:

• Predictable Structure: ATS systems excel at parsing this layout.
• Clear Work History: Algorithms can easily identify and evaluate your career trajectory.
• Career Advancement: It highlights your growth and adaptability.

Best for: Candidates with a solid work history in the same industry or those demonstrating clear career advancement.

Structure:

1. Contact Information
2. Professional Summary
3. Work Experience (reverse chronological)
4. Education
5. Skills
6. Certifications (optional)

Example:

John Doe  
New York, NY | (123) 456-7890 | john.doe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/johndoe  

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY  
Dynamic marketing professional with **8+ years of experience** in digital marketing and brand management, specializing in content strategy and social media engagement.

WORK EXPERIENCE  
Digital Marketing Manager  
XYZ Agency | New York, NY | January 2020 - Present  
• Increased website traffic by **40%** within one year through targeted content marketing strategies.  
• Led a team of **5** to develop multi-channel marketing campaigns, achieving a **30%** boost in conversion rates.  

Marketing Coordinator  
ABC Corp | New York, NY | June 2017 - December 2019  
• Assisted in planning and executing marketing events, enhancing brand visibility by **25%**.  
• Managed social media accounts, increasing engagement rates by **50%**.

2. Functional Format (Problematic for ATS)

The functional format emphasizes skills over job titles, grouping experience by skill categories. While this format can help candidates with employment gaps, it poses challenges for ATS because:

• Lack of Job Context: Skills may not correlate with specific jobs, making it difficult for ATS to parse effectively.
• Skepticism from Recruiters: Many recruiters prefer chronological data, viewing functional formats with caution.

Recommendation: Avoid submitting purely functional resumes online. If you need to highlight skills due to gaps, consider blending this format with chronological elements.

3. Combination Format (Moderate ATS Compatibility)

The combination format merges both chronological and functional aspects. It begins with a skills summary followed by a reverse-chronological work history, striking a balance between showcasing skills and providing job context.

Structure:

1. Contact Information
2. Professional Summary
3. Key Skills Summary
4. Work Experience (reverse chronological)
5. Education

This format can perform well with ATS if organized correctly while putting relevant skills in the spotlight.

Essential Formatting Elements for ATS Success

Page Layout

• Margins: Standard margins of 0.5 to 1 inch on all sides are recommended. Avoid cramming content by reducing margins too much.
• Alignment: Left-align all text. Centered or right-aligned content may lead to parsing issues.
• Columns: Stick to a single-column layout. Multi-column designs often lead to incorrect parsing, causing content to jumble together.

Font Selection

Choose professional fonts that ATS can read without confusion:

• Recommended fonts: Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Helvetica, Times New Roman.
• Font sizes:
  • Name: 14-16 points
  • Section headings: 12-14 points
  • Body text: 10-12 points

Section Organization

Use clear, standard section headings that ATS recognizes:

• Contact Information — Should be at the top, not in headers.
• Professional Summary — 3-5 sentences highlighting key qualifications.
• Work Experience — Each entry should include:
  • Job title
  • Company name
  • Location (city, state)
  • Dates of employment
  • Bullet points detailing achievements
• Education — Degree, institution, graduation year.
• Skills — Clearly listed, separated by commas or bullets.

Bullet Points and Lists

When listing accomplishments and responsibilities:

• Use standard round bullets or simple dashes.
• Avoid special characters or symbols.
• Keep bullet points to 1-2 lines each.
• Start each bullet with a strong action verb.
• Include quantifiable achievements (e.g., “Increased sales by 20% within six months.”).

Date Formats

Consistency is crucial for dates. Choose one format and stick with it:

• Acceptable formats: January 2022 - Present, Jan 2022 - Present, 01/2022 - Present.
• Avoid: Mixing formats, using seasons, or vague terms.

File Format Considerations

Microsoft Word (.docx)

The safest choice for ATS compatibility. Nearly all systems can parse Word documents accurately. Use this format unless specified otherwise.

PDF Files

Most modern ATS handle PDFs, but some older systems struggle. When using PDF:

• Create the PDF from a Word document (not scanned images).
• Verify that text can be selected and copied.
• Follow employer instructions on preferred formats.

Plain Text (.txt)

Guaranteed to parse correctly but loses all formatting. It’s worth testing your resume in plain text format to see how the content appears.

What to Avoid in Your Format

• Tables: Can scramble the content order.
• Text boxes: Often invisible to ATS.
• Headers and footers: Many systems cannot read these sections.
• Graphics and images: Cannot be parsed; use text only.
• Unusual bullets: Stick to standard bullet characters.
• Multiple columns: Single-column layouts parse most reliably.

Testing Your Format

Before submitting applications, test your resume format:

1. Plain text test: Copy and paste your resume into Notepad. If it remains organized, your format is likely ATS-friendly.
2. PDF conversion test: If submitting as PDF, verify that text can be selected and copied without errors.
3. ATS simulation: Use tools that simulate ATS parsing to identify potential issues.

Sample ATS-Friendly Format Structure

FIRST NAME LAST NAME  
City, State | Phone | Email | LinkedIn URL  

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY  
[3-5 sentence overview with key skills and experience]  

WORK EXPERIENCE  
Job Title  
Company Name | City, State | Month Year - Month Year  
• Achievement with quantifiable result  
• Responsibility demonstrating relevant skill  
• Accomplishment aligned with target position  

[Previous positions in same format]  

EDUCATION  
Degree Name  
University Name, City, State | Graduation Year  

SKILLS  
Technical Skills: [List separated by commas]  
Languages: [If applicable]  
Certifications: [If applicable]  

How Jobfolio Optimizes Your Format

Jobfolio’s resume builder creates ATS-optimized formats automatically. Our templates adhere to best practices for ATS parsing while maintaining visual appeal for human reviewers. We take the guesswork out of formatting, letting you focus on content while we handle the technical details.

Conclusion

The right resume format is the foundation for ATS success. By choosing a chronological or well-structured combination format, using standard fonts and layouts, and avoiding common pitfalls, you ensure your qualifications are accurately captured.

Remember, your format should make your content easy to parse, not distract from it. Keep it clean, consistent, and conventional, and let your achievements shine.

For a comprehensive guide on creating your resume, check out our Create Your Resume tool, and to ensure your formatting is ATS-friendly, use our ATS Checker.

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Additional Resource

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