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Resume Guide

Resume Tips & ATS Guide

Practical, ATS-safe guidance to help your resume read clearly to both people and systems.

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ATS Basics

Keep layouts clean, use standard section titles, and avoid heavy graphics that confuse parsers.

  • Use clear headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills.
  • Stick to readable fonts and consistent spacing.
  • Save as PDF unless the job asks for DOCX.

Impactful Experience

Focus on outcomes and metrics rather than task lists.

  • Start bullets with action verbs.
  • Quantify results when possible.
  • Align keywords with the job description.

What ATS systems read

Think of ATS as a structured parser. It reads headings, dates, and keywords before style.

Do
  • Use standard section names
  • Include dates and locations
  • Match role keywords
Avoid
  • Overly decorative fonts
  • Text embedded in images
  • Dense paragraphs

Quick checklist

  • Clear role title near the top
  • Most relevant experience first
  • Projects include outcomes
  • Skills match the job listing
  • One page unless experience demands two
Tip: use the font and spacing controls to tighten content before adding a second page.

Projects that matter

Highlight projects that show your core skills and results.

  • Include the tech stack and your role.
  • Share a link if it’s public.
  • Keep descriptions concise and focused.

Formatting tips

Make it easy to scan in 6-10 seconds.

  • Use consistent spacing and alignment.
  • Prioritize the most relevant sections.
  • Keep line length readable.

Resume FAQ

Is ATS really used by employers?

Yes. Many companies use ATS to parse resumes and filter for keywords before a recruiter reviews them.

PDF or DOCX?

PDF is usually best for layout consistency. Use DOCX only if the job posting requests it.

One page or two?

Aim for one page until you have enough relevant experience to justify two. Keep it concise.

How many bullet points per role?

3-5 strong bullets for recent roles is usually enough. Focus on impact and metrics.

Before & After: Bullet Improvement

Before

Responsible for improving onboarding and reducing customer issues.

Before

Worked on dashboards and reports for leadership.

After

Redesigned onboarding flow, cutting time-to-first-value by 35% and reducing support tickets by 22%.

After

Turned dashboards into clear reports that highlight key metrics for executives.