Template guide
ATS-Friendly Resume Templates
How to choose a resume template that stays readable for software and humans.
ATS-friendly does not mean ugly. It means the important text remains selectable, section labels are recognizable, and layout choices do not scramble the order of your experience.
Use live text
Avoid submitting flattened image resumes. If you cannot select the words in the exported file, software may not read them correctly.
Avoid risky layout devices
Tables, text boxes, icons used as labels, decorative skill bars, and unusual section names can create parsing ambiguity.
Prefer DOCX when requested
Many employers accept PDF, but a clean DOCX remains a practical default when the application system asks for Word files.
Use standard section names
Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications, Projects, and Summary are safer than clever labels. Recruiters and parsers both benefit when the resume follows expected vocabulary.
Put contact information in the body
Do not rely on headers, footers, icons, or images for name, email, phone, location, LinkedIn, or portfolio links. Keep contact text selectable and visible in the main document flow.
Check reading order
A two-column visual layout may look fine but read in the wrong order when converted to text. Test by selecting all text, copying it into a plain text file, or using a conversion tool before submitting.
Current Almagreta QA evidence
The current build checks template files for basic artifact presence, readable DOCX text, rendered preview generation, and obvious preview leakage. This is useful evidence, but it is not the same as a commercial ATS parser test.
Best current starting points
Use ATS Classic Resume for the safest conservative submission, Modern ATS Resume for technical or project-heavy roles, and Federal Plain Resume when long-form structured detail matters more than visual polish.
FAQ
Does ATS-friendly mean plain and ugly?
No. It means the important text stays selectable, headings are recognizable, and the reading order is predictable.
Are columns always bad for ATS?
Not always, but columns increase reading-order risk. Use conservative layouts when the submission path is unknown.
Has Almagreta run real ATS parser tests?
Not yet. Current QA proves file presence, readable text, package structure, and rendered previews; parser validation remains a separate requirement.
Pair this guide with a clean editable template, then proof the final file before sending it.
Browse templates