How to Build an ATS-Friendly Resume in 2026

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by 99% of Fortune 500 companies to filter out unqualified candidates before a human ever looks at a CV. If your resume isn't ATS-friendly, your chances of getting an interview drop to near zero.

1. Minimalist Formatting is King

The biggest mistake job seekers make is over-designing their resumes. While a two-column layout with pie charts representing your "communication skills" looks great to a human, the ATS robot sees it as a jumbled mess.

To build an ATS-friendly resume, stick to:
- A single column layout
- Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Inter, Outfit)
- Clear, standard headers (Experience, Education, Skills)

2. Keyword Optimization

An ATS scans your document for specific keywords found in the job description. If you are applying for a "Frontend Developer" role but your resume says "UI Software Engineer", the system might score you poorly.

Make sure you read the job description carefully and mirror their exact terminology. If they ask for "Customer Success", don't write "Client Relations".

3. Ditch the Graphics and Icons

Remove all images, headshots, icons, and non-standard bullet points. The ATS often fails to parse images and might scramble the surrounding text. Stick to a classic round bullet point.

Build Yours for Free

At ResumeCareerHub, we built our primary templates specifically to pass the ATS parser. Our "**Classic**" and "**Modern**" templates use standard web fonts and single-column semantic structures specifically designed to score 100% on standard parsing software. Best of all? You can generate it in seconds for free.