An ATS-friendly resume starts with readable information

Use a layout that makes reading straightforward

Start with a clear reading order, familiar section headings and consistent dates. A straightforward single-column layout is a sensible default when you do not know which parser the employer uses. Do not assume that every parser rejects columns or graphics; test your file instead.

Keep essential information as text. Your email address, role titles and skills should not exist only inside pictures or decorative icons. Use headings such as Experience, Education, Skills and Projects so both people and software can identify sections.

Follow the employer’s file instructions first

If the application asks for DOCX, send DOCX. If it accepts a text-based PDF, check that you can select and copy its text. A scanned image of a resume needs text recognition before it can be parsed reliably.

Waywright offers PDF and Word downloads. Its upload parser needs extractable document text; an image-only resume may need conversion before uploading. Choosing PDF instead of DOCX is not, by itself, an improvement to your qualifications.

Use relevant terminology with supporting evidence

Use a job description’s terminology when it accurately describes your experience. If you have used PostgreSQL, naming it is clearer than saying only “databases.” If you have never used it, adding the keyword would misrepresent your skills.

Avoid hidden text, repeated keyword lists and copied job-description paragraphs. Explain where you used a skill in a project or role. A useful resume should remain easy for a recruiter to read after any automated parsing.

Check the exported file, not just the editor

Open the final download and copy the text into a plain-text editor. Check the order of sections, bullet characters and contact details. This is a useful sanity check, not a simulation of every ATS.

If an application portal extracts fields from your resume, review and correct them before submitting. Waywright’s job-match score compares your resume with a job description; it does not access an employer’s private screening rules.

• Name and contact details are present as selectable text.
• Headings, roles and dates appear in a sensible reading order.
• Links work and the file opens without a password.
• The file type and size follow the application instructions.
• Every skill and achievement is accurate and defensible.