Do employers scan resumes, and if so, should a simpler format be used?
Yes, employers scan resumes using automated software, and a simpler format is highly recommended to ensure your application is accurately processed. These automated systems, known as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), filter and rank candidates before a human recruiter ever sees the resume.
More than 95% of large companies and about half of mid-sized companies use an ATS to handle the massive volume of applications they receive.
The software scans resumes for keywords, skills, qualifications, and experience that match the jobDescription. A resume with a high match rate is passed on to a recruiter, while others may be automatically rejected.
For a resume to be parsed correctly by an ATS, a clean and simple format is crucial. Complex formatting can confuse the software, causing it to misinterpret or drop important information.
Formatting to avoid:
Graphics and images: Including charts, logos, or headshots can cause critical data to be missed or scrambled.
Headers and footers: Some ATS systems cannot read information placed in the header or footer, so critical contact information may be overlooked.
Tables and columns: Multi-column layouts often break when parsed by an ATS, which can lead to incomplete or jumbled text.
Fancy fonts and designs: While visually appealing to humans, complex or decorative fonts can cause parsing errors.
Keyword stuffing: Overloading your resume with keywords in an unnatural way can be detected by more advanced ATS and flagged as spam.
To ensure your resume successfully gets past an ATS and into the hands of a human hiring manager, follow these best practices:
Use a clean, single-column format. A simple, reverse-chronological layout is the most reliable format for an ATS to read correctly.
Use standard section headings. Stick to conventional titles like "Professional Experience," "Skills," and "Education." Creative titles may not be recognized by the software.
Incorporate keywords naturally. Review the job description and weave specific keywords and skills into your experience and summary sections. Use both the full term and the acronym (e.g., "Customer Relationship Management (CRM)") to cover all bases.
Use standard fonts. Select a common, easy-to-read font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
Place contact information in the body. Put your name, phone number, and email address in the main text of your resume rather than in a header.
Save as a .docx or a simple PDF. While most modern ATS can handle PDFs, a .docx file is the safest option. If you use a PDF, ensure it's a text-based file and not a scanned image.
By using a simple, traditional format and focusing on strategically integrating keywords, you can create a resume that satisfies both automated scanners and human recruiters.
Yes, employers use software and human recruiters to scan resumes, and a simpler format is essential for getting past these screening processes.
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by most large companies and many smaller ones to manage and filter the high volume of resumes they receive.
Parsing and keyword matching: An ATS scans a resume to extract and categorize information (experience, skills, education) into a structured database. It then searches for keywords and phrases from the job description to find the most relevant candidates.
Ranking: The system assigns a match score based on how closely a resume's keywords, skills, and experience align with the job requirements. Resumes with low match scores may be automatically filtered out before a human ever sees them.
Formatting limitations: Many systems struggle to read complex formatting elements like tables, text boxes, images, and non-standard fonts. This can cause the ATS to misread or skip important information.
Source: Google, September 2025