Many employers screen resumes with software before a human reads them. The software extracts text, and fancy layouts break extraction: columns scramble order, tables split sentences, and graphics hide words entirely. A simple layout survives screening and still looks clean to a human reader. Design for the machine first, and the human second.
Formatting rules that survive
- Use one column, standard headings, and a common font, so extraction keeps the correct reading order.
- Put skills and job titles in plain text, not inside images, icons, or charts.
- Save in the format the posting asks for, and check the result by copying the text out yourself.
- Keep the file to two pages at most, with the most relevant experience first.
Test your resume by pasting its text into a plain document. If the pasted version reads clearly, the software version will too.