The right font and layout make your resume readable and professional. Here's what works for ATS and humans.
Stick to Standard Fonts
Arial, Calibri, Georgia, and Times New Roman are safe. They render well in ATS and print clearly. Avoid script or decorative fonts.
Font Size
10–12 pt for body text. 14–16 pt for your name. Headings can be 11–12 pt, slightly bolded.
Avoid Tables and Columns
Many ATS systems struggle with multi-column layouts and tables. Use a simple, linear structure.
Use Clear Section Headers
"Experience," "Education," "Skills." Simple and consistent. Bold or slightly larger type is fine.
White Space Matters
Don't cram. Margins of 0.5–1 inch, space between sections, and bullet points make it scannable.
Export to PDF or Word
Both work with ATS. PDF preserves formatting; Word is editable. Check the job posting—some specify one or the other.
Test With Our Builder
I Love Resumes outputs clean, ATS-friendly formats. Export to Word or PDF and you're ready to apply.