ATS Resume Tips 2026 — 12 Rules to Beat Automated Screening
Sunil Kalikayi4/8/20266 min read
Rules 1–4: Structure
1. Use standard section headings. 2. Single-column layout for submitted versions. 3. No tables, text boxes, or headers/footers. 4. Contact info in the body of the document, not the header/footer.
Rules 5–8: Content
5. Mirror the job description's exact language. 6. Include a Skills section with 10–20 items. 7. Use 3+ bullet points per experience entry. 8. Write your job titles to match industry standard terms.
Rules 9–12: Technical
9. Use a standard font (Calibri, Inter, Georgia). 10. Use consistent date format (Mon YYYY). 11. Export as PDF (or DOCX if required). 12. Run the ATS Score checker before every submission.