The ATS-friendly resume checklist (2026 edition)
A practical pre-flight list: file type, section order, keyword placement, and the small formatting details that quietly cost you interviews.
File and structure
Start with the container before you polish the words.
- PDF export with embedded, selectable fonts
- Single column for the main content flow
- 10.5–12pt body text, 1.15 line height
- Margins no tighter than 12mm
- File name: Firstname-Lastname-Role.pdf
Section order that works
Contact → Summary → Experience → Skills → Education → Certifications. Career changers can move Skills above Experience, but never bury Experience below the fold on page one.
Keywords without stuffing
Mirror the exact vocabulary of the job ad — if it says 'stakeholder management', do not write 'managing stakeholders' only. Use the phrase once in the summary and once inside a real achievement bullet.
Spell out acronyms the first time: Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Parsers match strings, not synonyms.
Final pass
Before you hit apply:
- Every role has dates and a location
- No first-person pronouns
- No text inside images, charts, or icons
- Consistent tense: past for past roles, present for the current one
- Score above 80 on an ATS scan against the actual job description
Put this into practice
Scan your CV against a real job description and fix the gaps in minutes.