You can have outstanding experience and still get passed over because of formatting. Layout choices that look polished to the eye often break Applicant Tracking System parsing or slow down a recruiter scanning dozens of resumes. Here are the most common formatting mistakes and the quick fixes that make your resume both readable and parseable.
Do tables, columns, and graphics really hurt my resume?
Yes. Tables, multi-column layouts, text boxes, images, and icons frequently confuse ATS parsers, which can scramble your reading order or drop content entirely. Use a clean single-column layout with standard text so both software and recruiters read your resume correctly.
A two-column design might place skills neatly beside your experience for human eyes, but a parser may read straight across the page, merging unrelated lines. The result stored in the employer's database can be unreadable, even though your file looks perfect.
With around 99% of Fortune 500 companies using Applicant Tracking Systems, formatting that breaks parsing can sink your application before a person ever reviews it. β Jobscan
How long should my resume be?
Keep it to one page for early-career roles and up to two pages for experienced professionals. Length should be driven by relevance, not padding. Recruiters scan quickly, so every line must earn its place with a relevant, specific accomplishment.
Cutting older or unrelated roles is not hiding experience; it is prioritizing what matters for this job. A tight two-page resume from a senior candidate beats a cluttered three-page one almost every time.
Recruiters spend on average about 6 to 7 seconds on their first review of a resume, so the layout must make your strongest qualifications instantly scannable. β The Ladders Eye-Tracking Study
What fonts, sizes, and headings should I use?
Use a clean, common font like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia at 10 to 12 points for body text. Stick to standard section headings such as Experience, Education, and Skills. Avoid decorative fonts and burying section labels inside graphics, which parsers cannot read.
- β’Use a single-column layout with clear, standard section headings.
- β’Choose a common, readable font at 10β12pt body size.
- β’Put contact details in the body, not in the header or footer.
- β’Use simple bullet points, not symbols, tables, or text boxes.
- β’Keep date and title formatting consistent throughout.
- β’Save as .docx or a text-based PDF, never an image.
Why shouldn't I put information in the header or footer?
Many ATS parsers ignore or misread content placed in document headers and footers, so your name, phone number, or email can disappear from the parsed file. Always put contact information in the main body of the resume to ensure it is captured.
It is a small change with high stakes: if your contact details are lost during parsing, even an interested recruiter cannot reach you. Move that information into the top of the body where it is reliably read.
How do I check my formatting before applying?
Copy your resume into a plain text document and review it. If sections appear in the correct order with nothing missing or jumbled, an ATS will likely read it the same way. A formatting-check tool can confirm parseability and flag layout issues you might miss.
This two-minute test catches the most damaging issues, scrambled columns, lost contact details, dropped sections, before they cost you an opportunity. Make it a routine step in every application.
ResumeRise automatically checks your resume for ATS-breaking formatting issues, from columns and text boxes to misplaced contact details, and shows you exactly what to fix so your layout never gets in the way of your experience.