[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":1035},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-en-ats-friendly-resume":3},{"slug":4,"locale":5,"updatedAt":6,"title":7,"description":8,"keywords":9,"faq":16,"body":35,"toc":807,"templates":826,"related":972},"ats-friendly-resume","en","2026-10-17","ATS Friendly Resume: How to Pass Applicant Tracking Systems","How applicant tracking systems read a resume, what breaks parsing, which file format to send and how to test your own PDF before you apply.",[10,11,12,13,14,15],"ats friendly resume","ats resume template","applicant tracking system resume","ats resume format","how to make a resume ats friendly","ats resume pdf or word",[17,20,23,26,29,32],{"q":18,"a":19},"Is a PDF or a Word file better for an ATS?","A PDF with real, selectable text works well in almost every modern system. Send Word only when the job post or the application form asks for it. Never send a scanned PDF or a photo of your resume.",{"q":21,"a":22},"Is there a single ATS score that decides if I get an interview?","No. Each employer uses its own system and settings. Some rank candidates against the job post, many simply store applications for a recruiter to search and read. Free online scores are guesses based on one tool's rules.",{"q":24,"a":25},"Can I use two columns on an ATS friendly resume?","Some systems read two columns correctly and some mix the lines together. A single column is the safe choice. If you use two, test the PDF by copying its text and checking the order.",{"q":27,"a":28},"Should I copy keywords from the job post into my resume?","Use the exact terms from the post when they are true for you, and use them in context, inside your experience bullets and skills. Hidden white text and long lists of repeated keywords are easy to spot and look bad to the person who reads the resume next.",{"q":30,"a":31},"Do humans still read resumes that go through an ATS?","Yes. The system stores, filters and sorts applications, but a recruiter or hiring manager reads the resumes that move forward. Write for that person first.",{"q":33,"a":34},"Do icons and graphics hurt an ATS resume?","Icons next to contact details are usually ignored, which is fine as long as the text is there too. Skill bars, logos and charts carry no readable text, so anything you show only as a picture is lost.",{"type":36,"children":37},"root",[38,46,53,58,94,99,105,110,305,312,317,323,328,334,339,344,349,373,379,384,422,427,432,438,443,471,477,482,487,515,520,557,563,611,617,622,645,650,683,688,693,699,709,719,729,739,745,758,764],{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":41,"children":42},"element","p",{},[43],{"type":44,"value":45},"text","Most medium and large employers, and many small ones, receive applications through an applicant tracking system (ATS). The system turns your file into text, splits it into fields like name, job titles and dates, and stores it so recruiters can search and sort candidates. An ATS friendly resume is simply one that survives that conversion with nothing lost or scrambled. This guide explains what the software actually does, what breaks it, and how to check your own file in two minutes before you apply.",{"type":39,"tag":47,"props":48,"children":50},"h2",{"id":49},"what-an-applicant-tracking-system-does-with-your-resume",[51],{"type":44,"value":52},"What an applicant tracking system does with your resume",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":54,"children":55},{},[56],{"type":44,"value":57},"When you upload a resume, three things usually happen.",{"type":39,"tag":59,"props":60,"children":61},"ol",{},[62,74,84],{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":64,"children":65},"li",{},[66,72],{"type":39,"tag":67,"props":68,"children":69},"strong",{},[70],{"type":44,"value":71},"Text extraction.",{"type":44,"value":73}," The system pulls the text out of your PDF or Word file. If the text is inside an image, or the PDF is a scan, there is nothing to pull out.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":75,"children":76},{},[77,82],{"type":39,"tag":67,"props":78,"children":79},{},[80],{"type":44,"value":81},"Parsing.",{"type":44,"value":83}," It guesses which part is your name, your email, each job, each employer and each date. It does this by looking for familiar section headings and patterns like \"Jan 2021 to Mar 2024\".",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":85,"children":86},{},[87,92],{"type":39,"tag":67,"props":88,"children":89},{},[90],{"type":44,"value":91},"Storage and search.",{"type":44,"value":93}," The parsed profile goes into a database. Recruiters filter by location, search for skills or job titles, and open the resumes that look relevant. Some systems also rank applicants against the job post, but the ranking rules differ from one product and one employer to the next.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":95,"children":96},{},[97],{"type":44,"value":98},"Popular systems include Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS, Taleo, SmartRecruiters and SAP SuccessFactors. They differ in detail, but they all depend on the same first step: getting clean text out of your file.",{"type":39,"tag":47,"props":100,"children":102},{"id":101},"what-breaks-parsing",[103],{"type":44,"value":104},"What breaks parsing",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":106,"children":107},{},[108],{"type":44,"value":109},"These are the problems that most often turn a good resume into a confusing profile.",{"type":39,"tag":111,"props":112,"children":113},"table",{},[114,138],{"type":39,"tag":115,"props":116,"children":117},"thead",{},[118],{"type":39,"tag":119,"props":120,"children":121},"tr",{},[122,128,133],{"type":39,"tag":123,"props":124,"children":125},"th",{},[126],{"type":44,"value":127},"Problem",{"type":39,"tag":123,"props":129,"children":130},{},[131],{"type":44,"value":132},"What happens",{"type":39,"tag":123,"props":134,"children":135},{},[136],{"type":44,"value":137},"What to do instead",{"type":39,"tag":139,"props":140,"children":141},"tbody",{},[142,161,179,197,215,233,251,269,287],{"type":39,"tag":119,"props":143,"children":144},{},[145,151,156],{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":147,"children":148},"td",{},[149],{"type":44,"value":150},"Text inside images",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":152,"children":153},{},[154],{"type":44,"value":155},"The system sees nothing, often including your name",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":157,"children":158},{},[159],{"type":44,"value":160},"Keep all important text as real text",{"type":39,"tag":119,"props":162,"children":163},{},[164,169,174],{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":165,"children":166},{},[167],{"type":44,"value":168},"Scanned or photographed PDF",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":170,"children":171},{},[172],{"type":44,"value":173},"The whole file is a picture",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":175,"children":176},{},[177],{"type":44,"value":178},"Export from the editor, never scan a printout",{"type":39,"tag":119,"props":180,"children":181},{},[182,187,192],{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":183,"children":184},{},[185],{"type":44,"value":186},"Tables used for layout",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":188,"children":189},{},[190],{"type":44,"value":191},"Cells are read in the wrong order or skipped",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":193,"children":194},{},[195],{"type":44,"value":196},"Use a single column with plain headings",{"type":39,"tag":119,"props":198,"children":199},{},[200,205,210],{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":201,"children":202},{},[203],{"type":44,"value":204},"Text boxes and shapes",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":206,"children":207},{},[208],{"type":44,"value":209},"Often dropped or moved to the end",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":211,"children":212},{},[213],{"type":44,"value":214},"Put the text directly on the page",{"type":39,"tag":119,"props":216,"children":217},{},[218,223,228],{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":219,"children":220},{},[221],{"type":44,"value":222},"Headers and footers",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":224,"children":225},{},[226],{"type":44,"value":227},"Some systems ignore them, so contact details vanish",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":229,"children":230},{},[231],{"type":44,"value":232},"Put your name and contact details in the main body",{"type":39,"tag":119,"props":234,"children":235},{},[236,241,246],{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":237,"children":238},{},[239],{"type":44,"value":240},"Two or three columns",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":242,"children":243},{},[244],{"type":44,"value":245},"Lines from the left and right columns get mixed",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":247,"children":248},{},[249],{"type":44,"value":250},"Use one column, or test the order carefully",{"type":39,"tag":119,"props":252,"children":253},{},[254,259,264],{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":255,"children":256},{},[257],{"type":44,"value":258},"Creative section names",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":260,"children":261},{},[262],{"type":44,"value":263},"\"My journey\" is not recognized as experience",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":265,"children":266},{},[267],{"type":44,"value":268},"Use standard names like \"Experience\"",{"type":39,"tag":119,"props":270,"children":271},{},[272,277,282],{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":273,"children":274},{},[275],{"type":44,"value":276},"Skill bars and ratings",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":278,"children":279},{},[280],{"type":44,"value":281},"A bar or five stars carries no readable meaning",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":283,"children":284},{},[285],{"type":44,"value":286},"Write the skill, and a level in words if needed",{"type":39,"tag":119,"props":288,"children":289},{},[290,295,300],{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":291,"children":292},{},[293],{"type":44,"value":294},"Unusual fonts without embedding",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":296,"children":297},{},[298],{"type":44,"value":299},"Characters turn into boxes or wrong letters",{"type":39,"tag":146,"props":301,"children":302},{},[303],{"type":44,"value":304},"Use a PDF with embedded fonts",{"type":39,"tag":306,"props":307,"children":309},"h3",{"id":308},"columns-read-in-the-wrong-order",[310],{"type":44,"value":311},"Columns read in the wrong order",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":313,"children":314},{},[315],{"type":44,"value":316},"Columns deserve a closer look because they are the most common surprise. A PDF stores text as positioned pieces, not as paragraphs. When a parser reads across the page, it may take the first line of your left column, then the first line of your right column, then the second line of the left one. Your job title ends up next to a skill, and a date lands under the wrong employer. Some systems handle columns well. You cannot know which one an employer uses, which is why one column is the safe default.",{"type":39,"tag":306,"props":318,"children":320},{"id":319},"headers-footers-and-contact-details",[321],{"type":44,"value":322},"Headers, footers and contact details",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":324,"children":325},{},[326],{"type":44,"value":327},"Word processors make it tempting to put your email and phone number in the page header. Several parsers skip the header and footer areas entirely. If that happens, a recruiter may find your resume but have no way to contact you. Keep contact details in the first lines of the page body.",{"type":39,"tag":47,"props":329,"children":331},{"id":330},"file-format-pdf-or-word",[332],{"type":44,"value":333},"File format: PDF or Word",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":335,"children":336},{},[337],{"type":44,"value":338},"A PDF that was exported from an editor contains real text and is read correctly by modern systems. It also looks the same on every screen, which matters when a person opens it. Send a PDF unless the job post or the form says otherwise.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":340,"children":341},{},[342],{"type":44,"value":343},"Some older systems and some recruitment agencies still ask for a .docx file, often because they edit resumes before sending them to clients. If you are asked, send Word. Avoid .pages, .odt, images and zipped files.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":345,"children":346},{},[347],{"type":44,"value":348},"Two things to avoid with PDFs:",{"type":39,"tag":350,"props":351,"children":352},"ul",{},[353,363],{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":354,"children":355},{},[356,361],{"type":39,"tag":67,"props":357,"children":358},{},[359],{"type":44,"value":360},"Scans and \"print to image\".",{"type":44,"value":362}," If you can't select a single word in your PDF, the system can't either.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":364,"children":365},{},[366,371],{"type":39,"tag":67,"props":367,"children":368},{},[369],{"type":44,"value":370},"Missing fonts.",{"type":44,"value":372}," A PDF should embed its fonts. Without them, letters can be replaced or shown as empty boxes, especially for accented letters and non-Latin scripts.",{"type":39,"tag":47,"props":374,"children":376},{"id":375},"section-names-and-order",[377],{"type":44,"value":378},"Section names and order",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":380,"children":381},{},[382],{"type":44,"value":383},"Parsers look for familiar headings. Use plain names and keep them on their own line:",{"type":39,"tag":350,"props":385,"children":386},{},[387,392,397,402,407,412,417],{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":388,"children":389},{},[390],{"type":44,"value":391},"Summary (or Profile)",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":393,"children":394},{},[395],{"type":44,"value":396},"Experience (or Work Experience)",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":398,"children":399},{},[400],{"type":44,"value":401},"Education",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":403,"children":404},{},[405],{"type":44,"value":406},"Skills",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":408,"children":409},{},[410],{"type":44,"value":411},"Certifications",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":413,"children":414},{},[415],{"type":44,"value":416},"Projects",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":418,"children":419},{},[420],{"type":44,"value":421},"Languages",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":423,"children":424},{},[425],{"type":44,"value":426},"For most people, the order is contact details, summary, experience, skills, education, then optional sections. Recent graduates can move education and projects higher. Whatever order you choose, the name of each section should say exactly what is in it.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":428,"children":429},{},[430],{"type":44,"value":431},"Within experience, give each job the same structure: job title, employer, city, dates, then bullets. Keeping the order identical for every role helps the parser split jobs correctly.",{"type":39,"tag":47,"props":433,"children":435},{"id":434},"dates",[436],{"type":44,"value":437},"Dates",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":439,"children":440},{},[441],{"type":44,"value":442},"Dates are how a system works out your total experience and the length of each job. Make them easy to read:",{"type":39,"tag":350,"props":444,"children":445},{},[446,451,456,461,466],{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":447,"children":448},{},[449],{"type":44,"value":450},"Use month and year for each job: \"Mar 2021 to Jun 2024\" or \"03\u002F2021 to 06\u002F2024\".",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":452,"children":453},{},[454],{"type":44,"value":455},"Use one format everywhere on the page.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":457,"children":458},{},[459],{"type":44,"value":460},"For your current job, write \"Present\".",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":462,"children":463},{},[464],{"type":44,"value":465},"Avoid seasons (\"Summer 2022\") and years alone when you can give months.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":467,"children":468},{},[469],{"type":44,"value":470},"Keep dates on the same line as the job or directly below it, not in a separate column far to the right.",{"type":39,"tag":47,"props":472,"children":474},{"id":473},"keywords-without-stuffing",[475],{"type":44,"value":476},"Keywords without stuffing",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":478,"children":479},{},[480],{"type":44,"value":481},"Recruiters search the database with words from the job post: a job title, a tool, a certification, a license. If those words are not in your resume, you may not show up, even if you have the skill.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":483,"children":484},{},[485],{"type":44,"value":486},"How to use keywords well:",{"type":39,"tag":59,"props":488,"children":489},{},[490,495,500,505,510],{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":491,"children":492},{},[493],{"type":44,"value":494},"Read the job post and mark the skills, tools and qualifications it repeats.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":496,"children":497},{},[498],{"type":44,"value":499},"For each one you really have, make sure the exact term appears in your skills section and in at least one experience bullet.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":501,"children":502},{},[503],{"type":44,"value":504},"Use the employer's wording when it is accurate. If the post says \"accounts payable\", don't only write \"AP\".",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":506,"children":507},{},[508],{"type":44,"value":509},"Write out an abbreviation once with the full name, for example \"Certified Public Accountant (CPA)\", so both versions can be found.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":511,"children":512},{},[513],{"type":44,"value":514},"Keep your job title close to the title in the post, as long as it is honest.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":516,"children":517},{},[518],{"type":44,"value":519},"What not to do: hide keywords in white text, paste the job description at the bottom, or repeat the same term ten times. Modern systems and recruiters notice these tricks, and a resume that reads badly to a human loses the interview anyway.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":521,"children":522},{},[523,525,532,534,540,541,547,549,555],{"type":44,"value":524},"Profession templates show which terms matter in each field. See the ",{"type":39,"tag":526,"props":527,"children":529},"a",{"href":528},"\u002Ftemplates\u002Fsoftware-engineer",[530],{"type":44,"value":531},"software engineer template",{"type":44,"value":533},", the ",{"type":39,"tag":526,"props":535,"children":537},{"href":536},"\u002Ftemplates\u002Faccountant",[538],{"type":44,"value":539},"accountant template",{"type":44,"value":533},{"type":39,"tag":526,"props":542,"children":544},{"href":543},"\u002Ftemplates\u002Fregistered-nurse",[545],{"type":44,"value":546},"registered nurse template",{"type":44,"value":548}," and the ",{"type":39,"tag":526,"props":550,"children":552},{"href":551},"\u002Ftemplates\u002Fdata-analyst",[553],{"type":44,"value":554},"data analyst template",{"type":44,"value":556}," for skill tables and example bullets.",{"type":39,"tag":47,"props":558,"children":560},{"id":559},"formatting-that-stays-safe",[561],{"type":44,"value":562},"Formatting that stays safe",{"type":39,"tag":350,"props":564,"children":565},{},[566,571,576,581,586,591],{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":567,"children":568},{},[569],{"type":44,"value":570},"One column, clear headings and plenty of white space.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":572,"children":573},{},[574],{"type":44,"value":575},"A common, readable font at 10 to 12 points for body text.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":577,"children":578},{},[579],{"type":44,"value":580},"Standard bullet points rather than custom symbols.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":582,"children":583},{},[584],{"type":44,"value":585},"Bold for job titles and headings is fine. Avoid putting meaning only in color.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":587,"children":588},{},[589],{"type":44,"value":590},"Links written as text, such as your LinkedIn or portfolio address, so they still make sense if the link is stripped.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":592,"children":593},{},[594,596,602,603,609],{"type":44,"value":595},"No photo for jobs in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia. Countries that expect a photo are covered in the ",{"type":39,"tag":526,"props":597,"children":599},{"href":598},"\u002Fguides\u002Fgerman-cv",[600],{"type":44,"value":601},"German CV guide",{"type":44,"value":548},{"type":39,"tag":526,"props":604,"children":606},{"href":605},"\u002Fguides\u002Fmiddle-east-cv",[607],{"type":44,"value":608},"Middle East CV guide",{"type":44,"value":610},".",{"type":39,"tag":47,"props":612,"children":614},{"id":613},"how-to-test-your-own-pdf",[615],{"type":44,"value":616},"How to test your own PDF",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":618,"children":619},{},[620],{"type":44,"value":621},"You don't need special software to see roughly what a parser sees. This simple test catches most problems:",{"type":39,"tag":59,"props":623,"children":624},{},[625,630,635,640],{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":626,"children":627},{},[628],{"type":44,"value":629},"Open your PDF in a browser or PDF reader.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":631,"children":632},{},[633],{"type":44,"value":634},"Select all text (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A) and copy it.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":636,"children":637},{},[638],{"type":44,"value":639},"Paste it into a plain text editor such as Notepad or TextEdit in plain text mode.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":641,"children":642},{},[643],{"type":44,"value":644},"Read it from top to bottom.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":646,"children":647},{},[648],{"type":44,"value":649},"Check these points:",{"type":39,"tag":350,"props":651,"children":652},{},[653,658,663,668,673,678],{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":654,"children":655},{},[656],{"type":44,"value":657},"Your name, email and phone number appear, near the top.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":659,"children":660},{},[661],{"type":44,"value":662},"Every section heading is there and on its own line.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":664,"children":665},{},[666],{"type":44,"value":667},"Each job reads in order: title, employer, dates, bullets.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":669,"children":670},{},[671],{"type":44,"value":672},"Lines from different columns are not mixed together.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":674,"children":675},{},[676],{"type":44,"value":677},"No words are missing, and there are no strange symbols in place of letters.",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":679,"children":680},{},[681],{"type":44,"value":682},"Nothing came out as one long line with no breaks.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":684,"children":685},{},[686],{"type":44,"value":687},"If the pasted text is in the right order and complete, most systems will read it well. If you can't select the text at all, the file is an image and needs to be exported again from your editor.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":689,"children":690},{},[691],{"type":44,"value":692},"Another useful check: upload your resume to a real application form that offers to \"autofill from resume\". Look at what it fills in. Wrong job titles or empty fields point to the same issues as above.",{"type":39,"tag":47,"props":694,"children":696},{"id":695},"common-myths",[697],{"type":44,"value":698},"Common myths",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":700,"children":701},{},[702,707],{"type":39,"tag":67,"props":703,"children":704},{},[705],{"type":44,"value":706},"\"You need an ATS score of 80 or more.\"",{"type":44,"value":708}," There is no universal score. Each employer configures its own system, and many don't rank applicants automatically at all. Online checkers apply their own rules, which can be a helpful prompt but are not what any particular employer sees.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":710,"children":711},{},[712,717],{"type":39,"tag":67,"props":713,"children":714},{},[715],{"type":44,"value":716},"\"The ATS rejects most resumes before a human sees them.\"",{"type":44,"value":718}," Systems can filter on hard requirements, such as work authorization or a required license, when an employer sets that up. Most of the sorting is still done by recruiters searching and reading. A clear resume that matches the job is what gets through.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":720,"children":721},{},[722,727],{"type":39,"tag":67,"props":723,"children":724},{},[725],{"type":44,"value":726},"\"An ATS resume has to be ugly.\"",{"type":44,"value":728}," It has to be readable as text. Clean typography, good spacing and a consistent structure work for both the system and the person.",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":730,"children":731},{},[732,737],{"type":39,"tag":67,"props":733,"children":734},{},[735],{"type":44,"value":736},"\"Keywords are all that matter.\"",{"type":44,"value":738}," Keywords help you get found. After that, a human decides, and they look for results, scope and relevance.",{"type":39,"tag":47,"props":740,"children":742},{"id":741},"building-an-ats-friendly-resume-with-this-site",[743],{"type":44,"value":744},"Building an ATS friendly resume with this site",{"type":39,"tag":40,"props":746,"children":747},{},[748,750,756],{"type":44,"value":749},"The builder on resumeforfree.com typesets every resume into a PDF with real, selectable text and embedded fonts, so nothing is stored as an image. It includes an \"ATS Friendly\" layout with a single column and plain section headings, and you can rename sections or change their order. The site does not score or check your resume against a job post; run the copy and paste test above on the finished file. You can ",{"type":39,"tag":526,"props":751,"children":753},{"href":752},"\u002Fbuilder",[754],{"type":44,"value":755},"start a resume in the builder",{"type":44,"value":757}," for free without creating an account.",{"type":39,"tag":47,"props":759,"children":761},{"id":760},"checklist-before-you-apply",[762],{"type":44,"value":763},"Checklist before you apply",{"type":39,"tag":350,"props":765,"children":766},{},[767,772,777,782,787,792,797,802],{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":768,"children":769},{},[770],{"type":44,"value":771},"The PDF has selectable text and embedded fonts",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":773,"children":774},{},[775],{"type":44,"value":776},"Contact details are in the body, not the header or footer",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":778,"children":779},{},[780],{"type":44,"value":781},"One column, or a two column file that passes the copy and paste test",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":783,"children":784},{},[785],{"type":44,"value":786},"Standard section names in a logical order",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":788,"children":789},{},[790],{"type":44,"value":791},"One date format with month and year for every job",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":793,"children":794},{},[795],{"type":44,"value":796},"The job post's key terms appear where they are true for you",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":798,"children":799},{},[800],{"type":44,"value":801},"No skill bars, text boxes or important text inside images",{"type":39,"tag":63,"props":803,"children":804},{},[805],{"type":44,"value":806},"The file name includes your name, for example \"Maria-Lopez-Resume.pdf\"",{"title":808,"searchDepth":809,"depth":809,"links":810},"",2,[811,812,817,818,819,820,821,822,823,824,825],{"id":49,"depth":809,"text":52},{"id":101,"depth":809,"text":104,"children":813},[814,816],{"id":308,"depth":815,"text":311},3,{"id":319,"depth":815,"text":322},{"id":330,"depth":809,"text":333},{"id":375,"depth":809,"text":378},{"id":434,"depth":809,"text":437},{"id":473,"depth":809,"text":476},{"id":559,"depth":809,"text":562},{"id":613,"depth":809,"text":616},{"id":695,"depth":809,"text":698},{"id":741,"depth":809,"text":744},{"id":760,"depth":809,"text":763},[827,866,902,938],{"slug":828,"locale":5,"category":829,"layout":830,"updatedAt":831,"related":832,"title":835,"description":836,"profession":837,"keywords":838,"faq":844},"software-engineer","technology","ats-friendly","2026-10-04",[833,834],"project-manager","student","Software Engineer Resume Template","A free, ATS-friendly software engineer resume with a complete sample, example bullets for every level and the skills recruiters search for.","Software Engineer",[839,840,841,842,843],"software engineer resume","software developer resume template","backend engineer resume","ATS resume for engineers","software engineer resume example",[845,848,851,854,857,860,863],{"q":846,"a":847},"Should a software engineer resume be one page?","One page is enough for most people with under ten years of experience. If you have more and every line is still relevant, two pages are fine. Cut old jobs before you cut recent results.",{"q":849,"a":850},"Do I need a GitHub link?","It helps when your profile has work you are happy for someone to read. An empty or abandoned profile does more harm than leaving the link out.",{"q":852,"a":853},"Should I list every language and framework I know?","List the ones you could use in an interview tomorrow. A short, honest list reads better than a long one, and interviewers often ask about anything you mention.",{"q":855,"a":856},"How do I describe work on a team project?","Say what you personally did, then the result. \"Built the retry logic for the payments service\" is clearer than \"Part of a team that worked on payments\".",{"q":858,"a":859},"Do I need a summary at the top?","It isn't required, but two or three sentences help a recruiter place you quickly, especially if your job titles don't match the role you want. Skip generic lines like \"passionate developer\" and say what you build and with what.",{"q":861,"a":862},"Should I include a photo?","For jobs in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia, leave the photo off. Some countries in Europe and the Middle East expect one. When in doubt, follow what local job posts and recruiters ask for.",{"q":864,"a":865},"How do I handle a gap in my work history?","Keep it short and factual. If you studied, freelanced, built something or cared for family, one line is enough. Most hiring managers care more about what you can do now.",{"slug":867,"locale":5,"category":868,"layout":869,"updatedAt":831,"related":870,"title":871,"description":872,"profession":873,"keywords":874,"faq":880},"accountant","finance","default",[833,828],"Accountant Resume Template","A free accountant resume template with a CPA sample, two-column layout and example bullets for close, audit, tax and reconciliation work.","Accountant",[875,876,877,878,879],"accountant resume","accountant resume template","CPA resume example","senior accountant resume","staff accountant resume",[881,884,887,890,893,896,899],{"q":882,"a":883},"Where should I put my CPA on my resume?","Put it in three places. Add it after your name or in the job title line, list it under certifications with the state and year, and mention it in the summary if you have one. Recruiters often filter for it.",{"q":885,"a":886},"I'm not licensed yet. Can I still mention the CPA?","Yes, if you are working toward it. Write \"CPA candidate\" and list the sections you have passed, for example \"passed FAR and AUD.\" Don't write \"CPA\" on its own until you hold the license.",{"q":888,"a":889},"How much detail should I give about the systems I use?","Name the ERP and close tools, and say what you did with them. \"Built the fixed asset register in NetSuite\" tells a hiring manager more than a list of software names.",{"q":891,"a":892},"Should I include audit experience if I'm applying to industry?","Yes. Audit experience is a common path into corporate accounting. Describe the industries you audited and the areas you tested, since that maps directly onto industry work.",{"q":894,"a":895},"Can I name my clients from public accounting?","Only if your firm allows it and the engagement is public knowledge. Otherwise describe the client by industry and size, for example \"a regional manufacturer with $200M in revenue.\" That gives the reader the same information.",{"q":897,"a":898},"Should an accountant resume be one or two pages?","One page covers most staff and senior accountants. Managers and controllers with ten or more years, several employers and leadership work can use two pages, as long as every line still matters.",{"q":900,"a":901},"Do I need a summary?","It helps when you are changing direction, for example from audit to industry or from accounting to FP&A. Two or three sentences about your credentials, the work you do and the role you want are enough.",{"slug":903,"locale":5,"category":904,"layout":905,"updatedAt":831,"related":906,"title":908,"description":909,"profession":910,"keywords":911,"faq":917},"registered-nurse","healthcare","simple",[907,834],"teacher","Registered Nurse Resume Template","A free registered nurse resume template with a complete med-surg sample, license and certification layout, and example bullets you can adapt.","Registered Nurse",[912,913,914,915,916],"registered nurse resume","nursing resume template","RN resume example","med-surg nurse resume","new grad nurse resume",[918,921,924,926,929,932,935],{"q":919,"a":920},"Should I put my license number on my resume?","You don't need to. List the license type, the state and the year, for example \"Registered Nurse License, Arizona\". Employers verify the number themselves, and leaving it off keeps it out of every inbox you send the file to.",{"q":922,"a":923},"How should a new graduate nurse write a resume?","Put licenses and education first, then list clinical rotations like short jobs, with the unit, the hospital and what you did. Include any work as a CNA, patient care tech or unit secretary.",{"q":900,"a":925},"A short one helps when you are changing specialty or applying to a unit that is different from your current one. Two or three sentences about your experience and what you are looking for is enough.",{"q":927,"a":928},"Should I list every certification?","List the ones that are current and relevant to the job. BLS is expected almost everywhere. ACLS, PALS, NRP or a specialty certification matter when the unit asks for them.",{"q":930,"a":931},"How long should a nursing resume be?","One page for most nurses with under ten years of experience. Two pages are fine for nurses with several specialties, leadership roles or travel contracts, as long as every line helps.",{"q":933,"a":934},"How do I list travel nursing contracts?","Group them under one heading, such as \"Travel Registered Nurse, through an agency\", and list each contract underneath with the hospital, the unit, the city and the dates. That keeps short contracts from looking like job hopping.",{"q":936,"a":937},"Should I mention the patient ratio on my unit?","It helps when it says something about the pace or acuity of the work, for example \"1:2 in a 20-bed ICU\" or \"1:5 on a 36-bed med-surg unit\". One line in the job description is enough.",{"slug":939,"locale":5,"category":829,"layout":869,"updatedAt":6,"related":940,"title":941,"description":942,"profession":943,"keywords":944,"faq":951},"data-analyst",[828,867],"Data Analyst Resume Template","A free data analyst resume with a complete sample, bullet examples for SQL, dashboards and Python work, plus the skills hiring teams search for.","Data Analyst",[945,946,947,948,949,950],"data analyst resume","data analyst resume template","entry level data analyst resume","business intelligence analyst resume","SQL analyst resume example","data analyst portfolio",[952,955,958,961,964,967,970],{"q":953,"a":954},"Should a data analyst resume be one page?","One page works for most analysts with under eight years of experience. If you have led teams or owned a large reporting program, two pages are fine, as long as the second page still has results on it.",{"q":956,"a":957},"Do I need a portfolio as a data analyst?","It is not required once you have solid work experience, but it helps a lot early on or when you change careers. One or two finished projects with a clear question, clean SQL or code and a short write-up beat ten half-done notebooks.",{"q":959,"a":960},"Can I mention work data or dashboards from my current job?","Describe the work, not the data. Say what the dashboard tracked, who used it and what changed. Never share screenshots, numbers or tables your employer has not made public.",{"q":962,"a":963},"Which tools should I list?","List the ones you could use in a technical screen tomorrow. SQL first, then your BI tool, then Python or R and Excel. Name the database or warehouse too, such as Snowflake, BigQuery or SQL Server.",{"q":965,"a":966},"Are certifications worth it for analysts?","Vendor certifications like Tableau or Power BI help when a job post names that tool, and they give career changers something concrete to point to. They rarely matter more than a good project or a strong bullet.",{"q":968,"a":969},"How do I show impact if my work was mostly reporting?","Say who used the report and what they did with it. \"Weekly stock report used by 40 store managers to plan orders\" shows value even without a revenue figure.",{"q":861,"a":971},"For jobs in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia, leave it off. Some countries expect one. Follow what local job posts and recruiters ask for.",[973,1004],{"slug":974,"locale":5,"updatedAt":6,"title":975,"description":976,"keywords":977,"faq":985},"german-cv","German CV Format: How to Write a Lebenslauf (2026)","How to write a German CV for jobs in Germany: the tabular Lebenslauf, photo, personal details, grades, language levels, degree recognition and the full application.",[978,979,980,981,982,983,984],"German CV format","Lebenslauf in English","how to write a German CV","CV for jobs in Germany","German resume template","Bewerbung documents","anabin degree recognition",[986,989,992,995,998,1001],{"q":987,"a":988},"Do I need a photo on a German CV?","No, you are not obliged to include one. The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) of 2006 does not mention photos directly, but it bans discrimination based on age, sex, ethnic origin and other characteristics, and the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency advises employers not to ask for a photo. Many applicants in Germany still add a professional photo, especially for traditional employers. International companies and many tech firms prefer none. If a job ad says no photo, leave it off.",{"q":990,"a":991},"Should my CV for Germany be in German or English?","Write it in the language of the job ad. If the ad is in German, send a German CV, even if the team works partly in English. Many tech and research roles advertise in English and accept an English CV.",{"q":993,"a":994},"How long should a German CV be?","One to two pages. Graduates usually fit on one page. Two pages are normal with several jobs. Only academic CVs with publications go longer.",{"q":996,"a":997},"How do I show that my foreign degree is valid in Germany?","Check your university and degree in the anabin database. If your university is rated H+ and your degree is listed as equivalent, you can say so on your CV. If not, you can apply for a statement of comparability (Zeugnisbewertung) from the ZAB. Regulated professions such as nursing, medicine and teaching need formal recognition.",{"q":999,"a":1000},"Do I have to sign my German CV?","No. A signature with place and date was standard for a long time, but most online applications now leave it out. Public sector employers, trades and apprenticeship applications still often expect it.",{"q":1002,"a":1003},"Can I make a German CV for free without an account?","Yes. resumeforfree.com builds a CV in German or English with an optional photo and exports a PDF. You do not need to sign up, and your data stays in your browser unless you turn on cloud sync.",{"slug":1005,"locale":5,"updatedAt":6,"title":1006,"description":1007,"keywords":1008,"faq":1016},"middle-east-cv","CV for UAE and Saudi Jobs: A Guide to Egypt and the Gulf","How to write a CV for jobs in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Egypt: personal details, attestation, notice period, salary and length.",[1009,1010,1011,1012,1013,1014,1015],"CV for UAE jobs","CV for Saudi Arabia","Gulf CV format","Dubai CV","Middle East resume","CV for Qatar jobs","degree attestation for Gulf jobs",[1017,1020,1023,1026,1029,1032],{"q":1018,"a":1019},"Should I put a photo on a CV for Dubai or Riyadh?","Many employers in the Gulf still expect a professional photo, but multinational companies and large recruiters increasingly don't ask for one. Follow the job post. If it says nothing, a photo is optional; if you add one, keep it formal and simple.",{"q":1021,"a":1022},"Do I need to include my nationality?","For Gulf jobs, usually yes. Nationality affects visa processing, and some roles are reserved for citizens. One short line with your nationality and current location or visa status saves the recruiter a question.",{"q":1024,"a":1025},"Should I write my expected salary on my CV?","No. Give a figure only when the job post or application form asks for it, and say whether you mean basic salary or the total package with housing and transport allowances.",{"q":1027,"a":1028},"Do I need my degree attested before applying?","Usually not just to apply, but most Gulf countries ask for attested certificates before issuing a work visa or permit. The process can take weeks and differs by country, so starting early helps if you are serious about moving.",{"q":1030,"a":1031},"How long should a Gulf CV be?","One to two pages. Long CVs of four or five pages still circulate in the region, but recruiters skim, and the third page rarely gets read.",{"q":1033,"a":1034},"Do I need an Arabic CV?","Most private sector jobs in the Gulf are advertised in English and accept an English CV. Some government and semi-government employers ask for Arabic or both. If you need an Arabic version, have a fluent speaker check it.",1792205412832]