How to Check if Your Resume Is ATS-Friendly: Complete Checklist

You may have a well-written resume with strong experience, relevant skills, and impressive achievements—but how do you know if it is actually ATS-friendly?

An applicant tracking system (ATS) may process your resume before a recruiter reviews it. Depending on the system and the employer’s settings, your resume can be parsed for information such as job titles, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications related to the position.

The good news is that you don’t need to guess whether your resume is ATS-friendly.

You can review your resume using a simple checklist that covers formatting, structure, keywords, file type, readability, and job-specific content.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to check if your resume is ATS-friendly, what common problems to look for, and what you can fix before submitting your next application.

If you’re starting from scratch, you may also want to read our guide on how to make an ATS-friendly resume and learn more about what ATS tools are.

What Does ATS-Friendly Mean?

An ATS-friendly resume is a resume that uses a clear structure and straightforward formatting so that applicant tracking software can more easily identify and organize your information.

There isn’t one universal ATS that every company uses. Different employers can use different systems, configurations, and screening criteria.

That means there is no way to guarantee that a resume will pass every ATS.

However, you can remove many common sources of parsing problems by keeping your resume simple, using recognizable section headings, including relevant keywords, and following the employer’s application instructions.

According to Indeed’s ATS resume guidance, job seekers should pay attention to the job description, use relevant keywords, choose standard headings, and avoid complicated formatting.

So rather than asking:

“Will my resume pass an ATS?”

A better question is:

“Have I made my resume as easy as possible for an ATS to read and for a recruiter to understand?”

How to Check if Your Resume Is ATS-Friendly

Use the following checklist before submitting your resume.

1. Does Your Resume Have a Simple Layout?

Start by looking at the overall design.

A simple, clean layout is generally a safer choice for ATS compatibility than a highly designed resume.

Check whether your resume:

• Uses a straightforward layout
• Has a clear reading order
• Has consistent alignment
• Uses enough white space
• Avoids unnecessary decorative elements
• Keeps important information in normal text

A single-column layout is often the simplest option because the information follows a predictable top-to-bottom order.

This doesn’t mean your resume has to look plain. You can still use bold text, appropriate spacing, clean typography, and subtle visual hierarchy.

The important thing is that design should support your content rather than get in its way.

2. Are Your Resume Sections Clearly Labeled?

Your resume should make it obvious where each type of information belongs.

Use conventional headings such as:

• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Skills
• Education
• Certifications
• Projects

Avoid replacing standard headings with creative alternatives such as “My Journey” or “What I Bring.”

An ATS may be designed to recognize common resume section labels. Standard headings also make it easier for recruiters to scan your resume quickly.

Indeed recommends using familiar headings such as “Work Experience,” “Experience,” and “Skills” when creating an ATS-friendly resume.

3. Is Your Contact Information Easy to Find?

Your contact information should be near the top of your resume and easy to identify.

Include the information relevant to your situation, such as:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• City and state/country
• LinkedIn profile
• Portfolio or professional website

Be careful about placing important contact information inside a header or footer.

Keeping essential information in the main body of the document makes it easier to identify and reduces the chance of it being missed during parsing.

Your contact information should also be text rather than an image.

4. Is Your Resume Free of Complex Tables and Text Boxes?

This is one of the most important formatting checks.

Open your resume and look for:

• Tables
• Text boxes
• Multiple text areas
• Complicated columns
• Decorative containers
• Information placed inside shapes

These elements can sometimes cause problems when resume parsing software extracts information from a document.

Indeed’s ATS guidance recommends avoiding tables, columns, headers, footers, graphics, and other complex formatting that can cause information to become scattered or lost during parsing.

If you can communicate the same information using ordinary text and headings, that’s usually the safer choice.

5. Does Your Resume Avoid Important Information Inside Images?

If an important qualification exists only as an image, the ATS may not be able to interpret it as text.

For example, avoid using:

• Skill rating bars
• Infographic-style experience timelines
• Images containing certifications
• Text embedded in graphics
• Logos used instead of company names
• Decorative charts containing important data

A human recruiter might immediately understand a graphic, but software may not interpret it the same way.

For an ATS-friendly resume, communicate important information using actual text.

6. Are You Using a Readable Font?

Your resume should use a professional font that is easy to read.

Common choices include:

• Arial
• Calibri
• Times New Roman
• Georgia

For most resumes, a body font size around 10–12 points is a practical range.

The exact font is less important than readability and consistency.

Avoid using several different fonts throughout your resume. One font family, or a simple combination of fonts used consistently, is usually enough.

7. Are Your Section Headings Consistent?

Check the visual formatting of every section heading.

For example, if “WORK EXPERIENCE” is bold and 14 points, your other major headings should follow a similar pattern.

Inconsistent formatting can make your resume harder to scan.

Check:

• Heading size
• Heading capitalization
• Bold and italic use
• Spacing before headings
• Spacing after headings
• Alignment

A consistent visual hierarchy helps both humans and software understand the structure of the document.

8. Are Your Job Titles and Dates Easy to Identify?

Your work history should have a clear structure.

For example:

Marketing Manager
ABC Company | New York, NY | Jan 2023–Present

This is easier to understand than placing the job title, company, and dates in separate design boxes.

Keep employment dates consistent throughout your resume.

For example, choose one style:

• January 2023 – Present
• Jan 2023 – Present
• 01/2023 – Present

More importantly, make sure the dates and job titles are clearly associated with the correct employer.

9. Does Your Resume Use Relevant ATS Keywords?

Formatting isn’t enough.

Your resume also needs to communicate that your experience matches the job you’re applying for.

Start with the job description and identify relevant:

• Skills
• Job titles
• Software
• Certifications
• Technical terms
• Industry terminology
• Responsibilities
• Qualifications

Then incorporate the relevant terms naturally into your resume.

For example, if a job description asks for “project management,” and you genuinely have that experience, you might write:

Managed project timelines and coordinated cross-functional teams to deliver software projects on schedule.

That’s much better than simply repeating:

Project management, project management, project management.

Keyword stuffing can make your resume difficult to read and doesn’t demonstrate how you actually used the skill.

For a deeper guide, read our article on ATS resume keywords.

Indeed’s ATS resume guidance also recommends analyzing each job description and tailoring the resume’s keywords to the particular position.

10. Are Your Keywords Used in Context?

Finding keywords is only half the job.

Check whether your important keywords appear naturally within your:

• Professional summary
• Skills section
• Work experience
• Projects
• Certifications

For example, don’t just write:

SEO | Google Analytics | Content Marketing | Keyword Research

Instead, where appropriate, show how you used those skills:

Developed SEO strategies using keyword research and Google Analytics to increase organic traffic by 42%.

This gives the ATS relevant terminology while giving the recruiter evidence of your experience.

11. Does Your Resume Match the Job Description?

Take the job posting and compare it directly with your resume.

Ask yourself:

Could a recruiter immediately see why I’m qualified for this particular position?

Look for important requirements in the job description.

If the employer asks for:

• 5+ years of experience
• Excel
• Data analysis
• Power BI
• Project management

and you genuinely have those qualifications, make sure they are clearly visible in your resume.

Don’t add qualifications you don’t actually have just because they’re in the job description.

The purpose of tailoring your resume is to make relevant experience easier to find—not to manufacture qualifications.

Harvard’s career guidance also emphasizes tailoring resumes to the specific role and ensuring the information accurately represents your experience.

12. Is Your File Format Appropriate?

Check the job application instructions before deciding which file format to use.

If the employer specifically asks for a PDF, submit a PDF.

If the employer asks for a Word document, submit a Word document.

If no format is specified, a text-based PDF or DOCX may be appropriate depending on the application system.

There is no universal rule that PDFs are always bad for ATS.

In fact, Indeed’s guidance notes that text-based PDFs can generally be parsed, while image-based or scanned PDFs can create problems.

The important distinction is between a text-based document and an image of a document.

If you open your PDF and can select and copy the text, that’s a good sign.

13. Can You Select and Copy All the Text?

Here’s a simple test you can perform yourself.

Open your final resume.

Press:

Ctrl + A on Windows or Command + A on Mac.

Then copy and paste the content into a plain-text editor.

Look at the result.

Does the information appear in a logical order?

Or does it look something like this?

Skills Education Contact Work Experience

If the content becomes scrambled, that’s a warning sign.

You want the extracted text to follow a logical reading order.

This isn’t a perfect simulation of an ATS, but it’s a useful basic test for identifying obvious structural problems.

14. Are Your Bullet Points Simple?

Use standard bullet points for your work experience and achievements.

For example:

• Increased organic traffic by 35% through technical SEO improvements.
• Managed a team of five marketing specialists.
• Reduced reporting time by 20% by automating weekly dashboards.

Avoid unusual symbols or elaborate graphic bullets.

Simple formatting keeps the content easy to read and reduces unnecessary complexity.

15. Does Your Resume Contain Measurable Achievements?

An ATS-friendly resume still needs to impress the human recruiter.

Don’t focus so heavily on ATS optimization that you forget about the quality of your content.

Whenever possible, include measurable results.

Instead of:

Managed email marketing campaigns.

Try:

Managed email marketing campaigns that increased qualified leads by 27% over six months.

Numbers help demonstrate the impact of your work.

Harvard’s resume guidance encourages applicants to focus on accomplishments and concrete evidence rather than simply describing responsibilities.

16. Is Your Resume Free From Spelling and Grammar Errors?

An ATS-friendly resume can still be rejected by a human because of poor writing.

Proofread your resume carefully.

Check:

• Spelling
• Grammar
• Company names
• Job titles
• Dates
• Email address
• Phone number
• Punctuation
• Capitalization

Don’t rely entirely on spellcheck.

Read your resume from beginning to end and, if possible, have another person review it.

17. Does Your Resume Look Good When Opened?

Finally, open the actual file you intend to upload.

Don’t assume everything is correct because the original document looked good.

Check the final version for:

• Missing text
• Broken bullet points
• Strange spacing
• Page breaks
• Overlapping content
• Incorrect dates
• Formatting changes
• Cut-off information

If you converted a Word document into PDF, check the PDF—not just the original Word file.

ATS-Friendly Resume Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist you can save before applying for a job.

Format

• ☐ Simple, clean layout
• ☐ Preferably single-column structure
• ☐ No unnecessary graphics
• ☐ No skill bars or charts
• ☐ No complicated tables
• ☐ No unnecessary text boxes
• ☐ Consistent margins and spacing
• ☐ Readable professional font

Structure

• ☐ Contact information is easy to find
• ☐ Professional Summary is clearly labeled
• ☐ Work Experience is clearly labeled
• ☐ Skills section is clearly labeled
• ☐ Education section is clearly labeled
• ☐ Certifications are clearly labeled when relevant
• ☐ Employment history has a logical order
• ☐ Job titles and dates are easy to identify

Keywords

• ☐ Relevant keywords from the job description are included
• ☐ Keywords appear naturally in context
• ☐ Important skills are supported by actual experience
• ☐ Job-specific terminology is used where appropriate
• ☐ No keyword stuffing

File

• ☐ Employer’s requested file type is used
• ☐ Text can be selected and copied
• ☐ The final file opens correctly
• ☐ Formatting remains consistent
• ☐ No information is missing after conversion

Content

• ☐ Resume is tailored to the specific job
• ☐ Achievements are included
• ☐ Results are quantified where possible
• ☐ Information is accurate
• ☐ Spelling and grammar have been checked

ATS Resume PDF vs Word: Which Format Should You Use?

How to Test Your Resume Before Applying

If you want to go beyond a manual checklist, you can use an ATS resume checker or resume builder to review your document.

However, remember that an online ATS test is only an approximation. Different applicant tracking systems can process resumes differently, so a score from one tool shouldn’t be treated as a guarantee that an employer’s system will rank your resume in a particular way.

A good testing process is to combine several checks:

1. Check the formatting.

Make sure the document has a straightforward structure and doesn’t rely on complicated design elements.

2. Check the extracted text.

Copy and paste your resume into a plain-text editor and make sure the reading order makes sense.

3. Compare it with the job description.

Identify the important qualifications and keywords that genuinely apply to you.

4. Review your content.

Make sure your experience demonstrates the skills you’re claiming.

5. Check the final file.

Open the exact file you’re going to upload and review it one last time.

This combination is more useful than relying on an arbitrary “ATS score” alone.

What Is a Good ATS Resume Score?

If you use an online ATS resume checker that gives your resume a score, don’t obsess over reaching 100%.

There is no universal ATS score used by all employers.

A score from one resume tool doesn’t mean an employer’s ATS will give your resume the same result.

Instead, use the score as feedback.

For example, if a tool tells you that your resume is missing several skills mentioned in the job description, review those suggestions and determine whether those skills genuinely apply to your experience.

If it identifies formatting problems, fix them.

The goal is not to manipulate a score. The goal is to create a resume that accurately communicates your qualifications in a format that is easy to process and read.

How to Make Your Resume More ATS-Friendly

If your resume fails several checks, you don’t necessarily need to start over.

Try making these changes:

Simplify the Layout

Remove unnecessary columns, graphics, tables, and text boxes.

Use Standard Headings

Replace creative section names with recognizable headings such as Work Experience, Skills, and Education.

Tailor Your Keywords

Compare your resume with the job description and naturally incorporate relevant terms that accurately describe your experience.

Improve Your Achievements

Replace generic responsibilities with specific accomplishments and measurable results.

Check Your File

Make sure the final document follows the employer’s requested file format and that the text remains readable.

For a step-by-step approach to building your resume, see our guide on how to make an ATS-friendly resume.

Create an ATS-Friendly Resume

Checking an existing resume can take time, especially if you’re not sure which formatting choices may cause problems.

If you want to start with a structured resume instead, you can use the HireTools ATS Resume Builder to create your resume with an ATS-focused structure.

The important thing is still to provide accurate information, use relevant experience, and tailor your resume to the position you’re applying for.

A resume builder can help with structure and formatting, but it can’t replace your judgment about which achievements and qualifications matter most for a particular job.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to check if your resume is ATS-friendly can help you catch problems before you submit a job application.

Start with the basics: use a clean layout, standard headings, readable text, simple bullet points, and a logical structure. Then compare your resume with the job description and make sure your relevant skills and experience are clearly represented.

Finally, test the actual file you plan to upload—not just the document you edited.

An ATS-friendly resume isn’t about finding a magic template or guaranteeing that you’ll pass an automated screening system. It’s about making your qualifications clear, accessible, and relevant to both the technology processing your application and the recruiter who eventually reads it.

Make your resume easy to parse, easy to understand, and specific to the job you want.