When job hunting, making sure your resume is ATS-friendly isn't optional—it's essential. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes before they ever reach human recruiters. If your resume isn't optimized for ATS, it may never even be seen by hiring managers. But is PDF the best file format for getting past Applicant Tracking Systems?
Let's find out.
What Are ATS Systems, and Why Do They Matter?
ATS software scans, sorts, and ranks resumes based on specific keywords, job titles, and skills. These systems help recruiters quickly filter out unqualified candidates, making the hiring process more efficient.
However, if your resume isn't formatted properly, even if you're highly qualified, it might not make it through the ATS screening.
Are PDFs Truly ATS-Friendly?
PDFs are often seen as a professional and polished format, but their compatibility with ATS systems varies.
Pros of PDFs:
- Maintains consistent formatting across devices and platforms.
- Ensures your resume looks polished and professional.
Cons of PDFs:
- Some ATS software struggles with embedded fonts or complex layouts.
- Older systems may have difficulty parsing text from PDFs.
- Scanned PDFs (such as those generated from images) are unreadable by ATS.
How Applicant Tracking Systems Process PDF Resumes?
A common misconception is that if your resume looks great in PDF, it's automatically ATS-compatible. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. ATS systems scan resumes to identify keywords and analyze text-based content like job titles, company names, and skills.
To make sure your resume is ATS-friendly, follow these guidelines:
- Use a standard font like Arial or Times New Roman.
- Stick to a single-column layout.
- Avoid images, graphics, tables, and decorative elements.
- Ensure proper spacing and alignment to maintain readability.
Many ATS systems read resumes line by line, so anything that disrupts that flow—like multiple columns or unusual formatting—could hurt your chances.
The Best Resume Formats for ATS
✅ PDF (Portable Document Format) – Best Choice
- Preserves formatting and layout.
- Compatible with most ATS software.
- Avoid scanned PDFs, as ATS cannot read images.
✅ DOCX (Microsoft Word) – Widely Accepted
- Easily parsed by ATS.
- Allows recruiters to edit or adjust content.
- Formatting can shift depending on the software version.
✅ Plain Text (TXT) – Safe but Basic
- Ensures complete readability.
- Lacks visual formatting, making it less appealing.
❌ Formats to Avoid
- JPEG, PNG, or Scanned PDFs – ATS cannot read images.
- Older Word Formats (DOC) – Some ATS may struggle with legacy formats.
For the best result, use a text-based PDF with a clean, structured layout. If unsure, submitting your resume in DOCX can be a safe alternative.
Exporting a Resume to PDF
When exporting your resume to PDF, a few small steps can make a big difference:
- Create your resume in a program like Microsoft Word or Google Docs using a simple, ATS-friendly template.
- If you're asked to submit a DOCX, make sure it's formatted cleanly and professionally.
- If you can't save it directly as a PDF, use a PDF Converter to ensure the format remains ATS-friendly.
Bonus Tips
- Double-check that the text in the PDF is selectable. Ensure it's not just an image-based file. The quickest way to check is to open the document in a PDF reader and press Ctrl + A (Cmd + A on macOS) to select all elements. If all text is selectable, you're good to go!
- Test your resume with an ATS resume scanner to check how well it performs.
Common Formatting Mistakes to Avoid
Even with the right file format, poor formatting choices can still hurt your chances.
Here are common mistakes to avoid:
- ❌ Using fancy fonts or excessive bold/italics.
- ❌ Adding headers or footers that may not be read correctly.
- ❌ Using tables to format job descriptions instead of bullet points.
- ❌ Including images, logos, or decorative elements that ATS cannot interpret.
In Conclusion
An ATS-friendly resume is your ticket to getting noticed in today's job market. While PDFs are often the best choice, they must be formatted correctly to avoid ATS pitfalls. Stick to simple, clean layouts, avoid unnecessary graphics, and always check that your text is readable by both machines and humans.
By following these best practices, you'll boost your chances of getting past the initial ATS scan and landing that interview!
