8 Quick Checks to See if Your Resume Is ATS-Friendly
Before you upload your resume anywhere, give it this 8-point scan. These are the most common issues that cause resumes to fail an ATS check and they’re all things you can spot (and fix) yourself in minutes.
Mistake 1: Using Inconsistent or Unclear Date Formats
It’s easy to overlook dates, but they’re one of the first things an ATS system CV scans. Recruiters often filter applications by years of experience, so if your dates aren’t clear, the software might not count your experience correctly.
The key is clarity and consistency. Pick one format and use it throughout your resume. Mixing styles (like “Jan 2021” in one section and “01/2021” in another) can confuse the parser.
✔ Correct date formatting examples:
- an 2021 – Mar 2023
- January 2021 – March 2023
- 01/2021 – 03/2023
✘ Incorrect date formatting examples:
- Jan ’21 – Mar ’23 (apostrophes often break parsing)
- 2021 – 2023 (missing months; ATS assumes Jan 1st by default)
- 1/2021 – 3/2023 (single digits can be misread)
Pro tip: Always include both the month and year. Without months, the ATS may assume you started in January, which could understate or overstate your actual experience.
Mistake 2: Using Unclear Abbreviations and Acronyms
What seems obvious to you may not be obvious to an ATS resume checker. Acronyms like “CPA” or “ERP” might be common in your field, but if a recruiter searches for the full term (“Certified Public Accountant” or “Enterprise Resource Planning”), your resume could be overlooked.
To make sure your resume shows up in both cases, always spell out the full term first, then include the acronym in parentheses. This way, you’ll appear in searches for either version.
✔ Do:
“Developed application programming interfaces (APIs) for electronic data interchange (EDI) integration across enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms.”
✘ Don’t:
- “Developed APIs for EDI integration across ERP platforms.”
- “Developed application programming interfaces for electronic data interchange integration across enterprise resource planning platforms.”
Pro tip: Once you’ve introduced the long form + acronym, you can use just the acronym later in your resume.
Mistake 3: Using Graphics, Tables, Columns, and Photos
Many job seekers try to make their resumes “stand out” with flashy templates, color blocks, tables, icons, and even profile photos. Unfortunately, this is one of the fastest ways to fail an ATS check.
But what if you work in a creative field?
Show your creativity in your portfolio or website, not your resume. Your resume’s job is to pass the filter, not be your art piece.
Simple design rules that work:
- Stick to a clean, single-column layout
- Use subtle color sparingly (e.g., dark blue headings, soft gray dividers)
- Always use standard bullet points (●). Decorative symbols like stars (★), checkboxes ☑, or diamonds ◆ may not parse correctly.
Mistake 4: Using Headers and Footers
Many job seekers place key details, like their name, contact info, logos, or page numbers, in the header or footer of the resume. But most ATS systems ignore these sections entirely, focusing only on the main body of the document.
That means critical info could be missed, affecting your visibility in recruiter searches.
To avoid this:
- Keep all essential content (name, phone, email, LinkedIn) in the main body—not the header or footer.
- Remove any logos, decorative lines, or graphics in these areas.
- If you use page numbers, make sure they’re simple and placed outside the footer when possible.
Also check your layout:
- Margins should be consistent and standard (1 inch on all sides).
- Page size should be US Letter or A4.
Mistake 5: Using the Wrong Font
Fonts do more than shape how your resume looks; they also determine whether it is readable by an ATS system or a CV.
Avoid decorative or uncommon fonts. Most ATS checks expect clean, simple typefaces. If the software can’t recognize the font, your content may not get parsed correctly.
Use one of these ATS-safe fonts:
Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Cambria, Georgia, Garamond, Tahoma, Verdana
Keep it consistent:
- Stick to one font throughout
- Use bold only for section titles, job titles, and company names
- Keep font size between 10–12 pt for body text
- Use black or dark gray for readability
- Avoid special characters or unusual bullet points
Mistake 6: Using Unconventional Headings
Avoid creative section titles. While “My Journey” or “What I’m Good At” might sound personal, they confuse ATS systems—which scan for standard terms to organize your resume.
If the ATS doesn’t recognize a section heading, it might skip that section altogether.
Use standard headings like:
- Work Experience
- Education
- Skills
- Certifications
- Summary
Pro tip: When in doubt, mimic the structure you see in job listings. The more your resume language aligns, the better your chances of passing an ATS check.
Mistake 7: Using the Wrong File Type
Your resume’s file type matters more than you think. If the format isn’t ATS-friendly, the system may fail to read it, no matter how strong your content is.
Stick to these ATS-approved formats:
- .doc or .docx (Microsoft Word – .docx is preferred)
- .pdf (Only if the job posting allows it. Make sure it’s not image-based.)
These formats preserve layout while remaining readable across most ATS systems.
Avoid these unsupported formats:
- Image files: .jpg, .png
- Web formats: .html
- Design files: .indd, .pub
- Rich text: .rtf
Pro tip: If you’re not sure what the employer accepts, go with .docx. It’s the safest choice for passing an ATS check without losing formatting.
Mistake 8: Ignoring Keywords from the Job Description
When it comes to passing an ATS check, keywords aren’t optional—they’re everything. ATS software filters resumes by scanning for specific terms pulled directly from the job description. If your resume doesn’t include those terms, it might never reach a human.
That’s why a generic resume doesn’t work anymore.
Here’s how to fix it:
- Pick a real job posting you’re applying to
- Highlight the key requirements, qualifications, and repeated phrases
- Use those exact terms (where relevant) in your resume, especially in your Work Experience and Skills sections
Example:
If the job ad mentions “cross-functional collaboration,” don’t just say “worked with other teams.” Use their language. The closer your wording is to the job post, the more likely your resume will rank higher in the ATS resume checker.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Let an ATS Block Your Dream Job
Getting your resume past an ATS system shouldn’t feel like cracking a code, but for too many job seekers, that’s exactly what it is. The good news? Now that you know how to check if your resume is ATS-friendly for free, you’ve already done more than most candidates ever will.
These 8 simple checks—clear dates, standard fonts, no tables or columns, the right file type, and smart use of keywords—can drastically improve your chances of landing an interview. And the best part? You don’t need fancy software or expensive tools to fix these issues. Let one of our professional resume writers take the guesswork out of it and craft a document that truly reflects your strengths.
✅ Want to be absolutely sure your resume is ATS-compliant?
At CareerTuners, we offer a full suite of resume writing services tailored to help professionals like you land interviews faster. Every resume we write is carefully optimized to pass even the strictest ATS checks—without sacrificing personality or impact. We blend keyword strategy with powerful storytelling so your resume gets noticed by both software and hiring managers.
