The ATS resume guide
What an applicant tracking system does, what trips it up and how to write a resume that works for it and for people.
What an ATS does
It collects applications, pulls your details into fields, and lets recruiters search and filter. A person still decides who to call. So the goal is a file the software reads correctly and a person can skim in seconds.
What breaks it
Avoid
- Tables, text boxes and columns
- Contact details in the header or footer
- Images, icons and skill bars
- Creative headings such as “My journey”
- Scanned pages with no real text
Do
- One column with your name on top
- Standard headings: Experience, Education, Skills
- Dates on every job, written the same way
- Real bullets, one or two lines each
- A common font and plain symbols
Formatting rules
- One or two pages. One page suits under about ten years of experience.
- Newest job first, with a title, company and dates.
- Group skills so they scan: languages, frameworks, tools.
- No photo, date of birth or home address.
Use the words in the posting
Recruiters search for skills and job titles. If the posting says “stakeholder management” and your resume says “working with clients”, a search for the first will not find you.
PDF or Word?
Keeps your layout fixed. The PDF from this tool has real, selectable text.
Word
The safer choice when a form wants a document it can edit. You can also copy plain text.
Follow the posting if it names a format.
Writing bullets
Start with a verb, say what you did, then say what changed.
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Questions
Is this resume maker really free?
Yes. No account, no watermark, and no limit on resumes or downloads.
Is my resume stored on a server?
No. It runs in your browser and saves only on your device. The PDF, Word file and text are made on your device too.
What makes a resume ATS-friendly?
A single column, real text, standard headings, dates on every job, and no tables, text boxes, images or details hidden in the header.
Which template is best for ATS?
Classic, Simple, Professional and Minimal are the safest. Most of the other templates are single column too. The two-column ones (Sidebar, Sidebar Right and Creative) are marked lower, because some systems misread columns.
Should I save a PDF or a Word file?
Follow the posting. If it does not say, both are usually fine. This tool gives you PDF, Word and plain text.
Can I add and remove sections?
Yes. Add, rename, reorder, hide or delete any section, including custom ones.
Can I make a different resume for each job?
Yes. Change the summary and skills for the posting, check the keyword match, and save each version as a file.
How long should a resume be?
One page for under about ten years of experience, two pages for longer careers.
Should I put a photo on my resume?
In the US, UK, Canada and most corporate roles in India, no. This maker has no photo field on purpose.
How far back should my work history go?
Ten to fifteen years is usual. Shorten or drop older roles that are not relevant.
What is the difference between a resume and a CV?
In the US and Canada a resume is short and targeted, and a CV is a long academic document. In the UK, India and much of Europe, CV means what Americans call a resume.
Does the job match tool work like a real ATS?
No. It compares the main words in a job posting with your resume and shows gaps. It is a guide, not a score from any employer system.
Will my resume be saved if I come back?
Yes, in the same browser on the same device, until you clear site data. Use Save as file to move it.
Does it work on a phone?
You can edit on a phone. Saving a PDF is more dependable from a computer, and the Word file or plain text work on a phone.