Many companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to collect and organise applications. These systems read the text of your resume. If they cannot read it properly — for example because information is inside an image or complex table — a recruiter may see an incomplete version.
Formatting that works
- A single-column layout with clear section headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills.
- Standard fonts and normal text, not text inside images or graphics.
- Dates in a consistent format, e.g. “Jun 2023 – Mar 2025”.
- Save as PDF or Word, whichever the application asks for.
Things to avoid
- Headers and footers containing key information like your phone number.
- Skill “ratings” shown as bars or stars — they carry no meaning to software or recruiters.
- Tables, text boxes and multiple columns for important content.
- Unusual section names such as “My Journey” instead of “Experience”.
Use the job description’s language — honestly
If a job asks for “Tally” and “GST filing” and you have done them, use those exact terms. Do not add skills you do not have: a recruiter or interviewer will check.
A final check
Copy all the text from your PDF and paste it into a plain text editor. If it comes out jumbled or missing, simplify your layout. For content tips, see how to write a fresher resume.
