ATS-Friendly Resume Format for Software Engineers
A resume can be strong and still be read wrongly by an applicant tracking system. Below is a complete example in the format those systems parse cleanly, followed by the rules it follows.
Build mine in this formatExample: an ATS-friendly software engineer resume
One page, one column, standard headings, plain bullets. The person and companies are fictional.
Priya Sharma
Bengaluru · priya.sharma@example.com · +91 98xxx xxxxx · linkedin.com/in/priya-example · github.com/priya-example
Experience
Software Engineer, Example Fintech Pvt. Ltd.
Jul 2024 – Present · Bengaluru
- Built a payments reconciliation service in Java and Spring Boot that replaced a manual daily spreadsheet process.
- Added Redis caching to the transaction history API and cut p95 latency from 820 ms to 190 ms.
- Wrote JUnit and integration tests for the settlement module and set up the GitHub Actions CI/CD pipeline.
Software Engineering Intern, Example Logistics
Jan 2024 – Jun 2024 · Remote
- Built React and TypeScript screens for the shipment tracking dashboard used by the operations team.
- Fixed 30+ UI and API bugs from the support backlog, with tests for each fix.
Projects
Expense Splitter · React, Node.js, PostgreSQL
github.com/priya-example/expense-splitter
- Group expense app with JWT login, settlement suggestions and a REST API; deployed on Render.
Skills
Languages: Java, TypeScript, JavaScript, SQL, Python
Frameworks and tools: Spring Boot, React, Node.js, PostgreSQL, Redis, Docker, Git, GitHub Actions, AWS
Education
B.Tech, Computer Science and Engineering, Example Institute of Technology
2020 – 2024 · CGPA: 8.4/10
The format rules, and why each one matters
One column
Parsers read top to bottom; two columns can be read across and mix sections together.
Standard section names
Experience, Projects, Skills, Education. Creative names like "My Journey" may not be recognised.
Text-based PDF or DOCX
If you cannot select the text in your PDF, the ATS cannot read it either. Never upload a scanned image.
Common fonts, 10–12 pt
Arial, Calibri, Helvetica or similar. Decorative fonts and icons can come out as garbled characters.
No skills in images, charts or rating bars
A parser reads text only. "Java ★★★★☆" is read as "Java" at best.
Contact details in the body, not the header
Some systems skip document headers and footers, so the details are never captured.
One date format
Use "Jul 2024 – Present" everywhere so each role’s dates are read correctly.
One page for under ~5 years’ experience
Recruiters skim; cut older or weaker items before shrinking the font.
Fresher or experienced: what changes
The layout stays the same. With under a year of full-time work, move Education and Projects above Experience, because they carry the page; the resume guide for freshers covers what to write in each. With more experience, Experience goes first and older roles get fewer bullets. Either way, check the finished resume against the job you want with the free ATS resume checker.
Questions
- What is the best ATS-friendly resume format?
- A one-page, one-column resume with standard section headings (Experience, Projects, Skills, Education), a common font at 10–12 pt, consistent dates, and no tables, text boxes or images for content, saved as a text-based PDF or DOCX.
- Is a two-column resume ATS friendly?
- It is riskier. Many applicant tracking systems read left to right across the page, so two columns can be merged into jumbled lines. If you are applying through an online portal, one column is the safer choice.
- Should I submit my resume as PDF or Word?
- Either works with most modern ATS as long as the text is selectable. Use what the application asks for; when it does not say, a text-based PDF keeps your layout intact.
- What resume format should a fresher software engineer use?
- The same ATS-friendly layout, with Education and Projects above Experience until you have a full-time role. The fresher guide covers what to write in each section.
- How do I know if my resume is ATS friendly?
- Select all the text in your PDF and paste it into a plain text editor. If it comes out in the right order with nothing missing, the layout is readable. Then run the free ATS resume checker against the job description to see which keywords are missing.
Get this format without fighting a word processor
The resume builder's Single Column template follows these rules and exports a text-based PDF.