What makes a resume template ATS-friendly?

A single column, standard section headings, real text instead of images or text boxes, simple fonts, and no tables for layout. The ATS then files your jobs, education and skills in the right fields.

Are two-column resumes bad for ATS?

Not always, but they are riskier. Modern systems handle many two-column PDFs, older ones can read across both columns and mix them up. If the job is applied for through a portal, use a single column.

Which template here is the safest for ATS?

Harvard and Classic Standard: black text, one column, plain headings. They look like the format university career offices recommend, and every ATS reads them.

How do I check my resume passes the ATS?

Upload it to our free ATS checker. It reads the file the way an ATS does, shows what it found, and lists fixes. Add a job description to see which keywords you are missing.

ATS resume templates

Plain, single-column layouts that applicant tracking systems read from top to bottom without losing a line. Standard section headings, real text (no images or text boxes), and dates where parsers expect them.

Best for: Anyone applying through job portals, company career pages or LinkedIn Easy Apply, where software reads your resume before a person does.

Use Harvard Check my resume's ATS score

Design with any template free. Download a text file free, or the PDF with Pro.

8 ATS templates

Shown with a sample resume. Your content keeps when you switch, so try a few.

Getting the most from ATS templates

01
One column beats two for parsing
Most ATS read left to right, line by line. A sidebar can get merged into your work history or skipped. If you apply through portals, a single column is the safe choice.
02
Use the headings the software expects
Work Experience, Education, Skills, Summary. Creative names like "My Journey" make the ATS guess where your jobs are. Every template here uses the standard names.
03
Put the job's keywords in your words
The template gets you read; the words get you matched. Copy the exact skill names from the job post into your Skills section and bullets, but only the ones you really have.
04
Send a PDF made from text
A PDF exported from a builder keeps real, selectable text. A scanned or photographed resume is an image, and the ATS sees nothing. Run it through an ATS checker before you apply.

Questions

What makes a resume template ATS-friendly?: A single column, standard section headings, real text instead of images or text boxes, simple fonts, and no tables for layout. The ATS then files your jobs, education and skills in the right fields.
Are two-column resumes bad for ATS?: Not always, but they are riskier. Modern systems handle many two-column PDFs, older ones can read across both columns and mix them up. If the job is applied for through a portal, use a single column.
Which template here is the safest for ATS?: Harvard and Classic Standard: black text, one column, plain headings. They look like the format university career offices recommend, and every ATS reads them.
How do I check my resume passes the ATS?: Upload it to our free ATS checker. It reads the file the way an ATS does, shows what it found, and lists fixes. Add a job description to see which keywords you are missing.

More resume templates

See resume examples by job title →

ATS resume templates

8 ATS templates

Harvard

Classic Standard

Corporate

Executive Serif

Compact Technical

Minimal

Classic

Split Header

Getting the most from ATS templates

One column beats two for parsing

Use the headings the software expects

Put the job's keywords in your words

Send a PDF made from text

Questions

More resume templates