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To give your resume the best chance of being read accurately by an applicant tracking system (ATS), use a simple, text-based layout; label sections clearly; tailor relevant wording to the job description; and review the application fields after upload. No single format or trick guarantees a pass: parsing systems and employers’ workflows vary, and parsing information is not the same as an automatic rejection or hiring decision.

What an ATS scan does—and what it does not mean

An ATS can extract information from a resume into searchable fields and help an employer store, search, sort, or review applications. The exact workflow depends on the employer and its software. Roche, for example, says recruiters and managers may search parsed data and review both the applicant and the attached CV. It describes its own use of parsed data as helping candidates complete an application and suggesting skills or potential job matches; that explanation applies to Roche, not every employer. Roche’s Resume Parsing FAQ

Parsing is information extraction, not a universal pass/fail verdict. A system may misread or omit information, and an employer may use its own review process. Your practical goal is to make the resume easy to extract and easy for a recruiter to understand.

How to tailor your resume to a job description

  1. Identify relevant terms. Read the posting and note repeated or prominent skills, qualifications, credentials, and duties. University of Texas at Austin Career Services recommends prioritizing repeated keywords that match your experience. UT Austin’s ATS guidance
  2. Use accurate wording. Where a posting’s term truthfully describes your background, use that wording in an appropriate place, such as your summary, skills section, or a work-experience bullet. Spell terms correctly; Roche notes that misspellings may interfere with keyword matches.
  3. Show how you used the skill. Put a skill in context—for example, describe the task or responsibility where you applied it—instead of relying on a detached list of terms. Include only skills, credentials, titles, and experience you actually have.

Do not copy every phrase from the posting, repeat keywords unnaturally, or hide terms in white text. UNLV Career Services warns that overstuffing and invisible text can backfire with recruiters. UNLV’s resume guidance

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Use a predictable resume structure

Put your name and contact details near the top in the document body, not only in a header or footer. Use familiar section headings such as “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Technical Skills.” Keep the work history clear, with the current or most recent role first, and use consistent date formatting and section labels.

Chronological and combination formats make work history easier to follow. Roche and UT Austin guidance favor these over a functional format that can obscure when and where you gained experience. Choose a structure that makes relevant qualifications easy to find without hiding your employment history.

Keep the layout simple and text-based

  • Use one main reading column, ordinary round or square bullets, and widely available fonts.
  • Keep essential information in the document body as selectable text.
  • Avoid tables, text boxes, decorative columns, graphics, photos, and logos for important resume content; extraction may omit material or read it in an unexpected order.
  • Do not put essential wording only behind hyperlinks.

A straightforward layout helps both parsing and human review. Before uploading, select and copy a portion of the resume into a plain-text editor to confirm that the text is present and appears in a sensible reading order.

Should you submit a PDF or a Word document?

Follow the employer’s upload instructions first. The guidance is not uniform enough to make one extension safest for every ATS and employer configuration.

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File type What the cited guidance says When to choose it
DOCX Roche says DOCX is parsed most accurately in its guidance. Use it when the portal requests Word or accepts it and you want to follow Roche’s format recommendation.
PDF UNLV recommends DOCX or PDF when formatting is simple and consistent. Use it when the portal requests PDF or permits it, provided the document contains selectable text and retains a clear reading order.

Neither recommendation establishes a universal rule for all ATS products. Avoid an image-only scan: the resume needs text that the system can extract. If the portal names an accepted format, do not substitute another based on a general tip.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Review the application after uploading

Do not assume the upload populated every field correctly. Roche explicitly advises candidates to check whether parsed information landed in the right application fields. Review the prefilled form, especially your name, contact details, employers, job titles, dates, education, and skills. Correct anything missing or misplaced before submitting.

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A final ATS-friendly resume check

  • Does the document follow the portal’s file and upload instructions?
  • Are your name and contact details in the body of the document?
  • Are the sections clearly labeled and the work history easy to follow?
  • Can you select and copy the text, and does it appear in a sensible order?
  • Does the resume use relevant job-posting terms accurately and in context?
  • Have you checked and corrected the application fields populated after upload?

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