The Right Resume Format to Get You Noticed

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The purpose of a resume is to get you an interview.

These days, companies screen candidates and resumes in two ways. The first is through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

All resumes (including those directly emailed to companies) are loaded into the computer, parsed and automatically searched for a match with keywords from job announcements (or keywords entered into the system by the recruiter/hiring manager). Only those resumes that have a good keyword match are selected for further review by the hiring manager. If a resume cannot be read by the Applicant Tracking Systems, it is rejected.

The second method recruiters and hiring managers use to find candidates is “sourcing” candidates by searching online resumes for possible matches using keywords. Again, if a resume cannot be read by search engines, it will not be selected.

Therefore, you should avoid using JPG and PDF files. Many Applicant Tracking Systems can reliably read only text or Word files without tables. Applicant Tracking Systems cannot read JPG files at all. If a resume is in JPG format, it will not even be seen by the hiring manager. In addition, many older Applicant Tracking Systems also cannot read PDF files, and if an applicant submits a PDF that is not readable, it will also be rejected.

You may be the most qualified candidate, but that you will not be chosen for an interview unless the Applicant Tracking System can read your resume.

If you want a fancy online resume, using PDF as a format is far preferable to JPG, since PDF files can be searched for keywords by search engines. As noted above, you want hiring managers and recruiters to find your resume through online searches. If a search engine cannot read the resume, you will not be found.

I strongly recommend using simple Word formats for resumes, with standard fonts, no tables and margins of at least 0.6 inches.

Resumes like that will print on all printers, will not be rearranged even by outdated versions of Word, can be read by Applicant Tracking Systems and can be searched online.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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8 Comments

1. 

   Liz Andrews

   May 3, 2013 at 6:07 PM

   Robin, so far on this site, you are by far my favorite author. You write the most insightful articles but more importantly always have some sort of example for us to go by. I really like this article as well. I was not aware until this week that there was such a thing as an ATS system. I’ve been wondering & wondering why are the jobs I really want not responding to me but the jobs I don’t want are. I’m discouraged & frustrated beyond words but your articles have given me great encouragement. You have given me lots of food for thought that I’m definitely going to put into play. Thanks.

   Reply
2. 

   CatherinaLucy

   February 15, 2013 at 5:58 AM

   The resume should be minimum 2 pages and the maximum 3 pages.This will be attractive to the interviewer.

   Reply
3. 

   Madison

   December 21, 2012 at 1:50 PM

   Hi Robin,

   Thanks for posting this article. Until now, I never knew that HTML was preferable over PDF for the above stated reasons that you mentioned. I’m also concerned that my resume needs editing, as I have not been getting noticed by the companies I’ve sent applications to. Do you know anyone/company that provides resume editing service at a fair price?
   Thanks for your help!

   Best,
   Madison S.

   Reply
4. 

   Poli

   December 18, 2012 at 1:04 PM

   This article is a bit lame . As for i know not all the companies use ATS and submitting a CV in a word format is never advisable given that each and every office have a differnt word version which can modify the layout of your CV .

   Reply
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     Robin Schlinger

     December 18, 2012 at 2:17 PM

     Not all companies use ATS systems – however many, if not a most do. If you use a PDF file, the ATS system cannot read the text all the time from the PDF. People who use ATS systems are not concerned about the format of the resume.

     If you use Word 2003 files, it reads pretty similarly for most folks on Word.

     Reply
5. 

   CER

   March 15, 2012 at 11:52 AM

   Lovely job on this article!

   Reply
6. 

   Todd

   March 8, 2012 at 6:37 PM

   Remember however, that many smaller companies do not have ATS software, so the PDF and JPG versions will work just fine there. The single largest employer segment of the economy right now is the small to medium types of businesses. Only worry about the extreme ATS hits if you’re going after a big fish or are in a small to medium tech search – they will be the ones with the most hoops to jump through.

   Reply
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     Robin Schlinger

     March 10, 2012 at 7:41 AM

     Todd – I understand that small to medium companies are doing hiring. Even they will, in many cases, use ATS systems to screen clients.

     I have even seen small companies use ATS systems (based on my clients and even my own experience). Some of them will contract with companies to help them in their job searches – especially when hundreds, if not thousands, apply for an open position. Also, they may not be able to open JPG versions correctly (PDF may be OK).

     If you are walking in to visit someone, you can hand them the “Pretty” version of your resume – with graphics and graphs – but also give them a version that can be scanned. I will advise clients to do both.

     However, statistics show at least 70% of all job openings go through ATS systems these days, so I would not want to be eliminated for the majority of jobs for the “chance” that a hiring manager would prefer a graph in a resume. Content is much more important than fancy graphics – and fancy graphics alone without content will be ignored.

     Any job you apply for on the internet – assume it will go through an ATS – if you are walking in for the interview or sending by email or mail – send both versions (if you believe the graphics will help you).

     Best,

     Robin Schlinger

     Reply