How to make an ATS-friendly resume
Simple rules that help applicant tracking systems and recruiters read your resume.
Updated October 29, 2026
An ATS-friendly resume is one that software can read reliably: the text comes out in the right order, sections have names the system recognises, and nothing important is hidden in graphics.
- Use one column for your work history, or a template marked ATS-friendly.
- Keep standard section names: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills.
- Put contact details in the body of the page, not only in a header graphic.
- Give every role a job title, employer and start and end date.
- Write bullet points that start with an action and end with a result, with a number where you have one.
- Use the words from the job posting where they are true for you, especially skills and tools.
- Save as a PDF with real text. Every PDF from Luxury Resume is text-based, never an image.
Tip: Not sure how your current resume does? The free ATS resume checker shows your score and what to fix first.
Was this article helpful?
Related articles
- How the ATS resume checker and report workWhat the resume checker looks at, how the score is calculated and what is free.
- Write work experience that reads wellStructure each role with clear dates and short, specific achievements.
- Change template, colors and fontsSwitch designs at any time. Your content stays exactly as it is.