Formatting guide
ATS-safe formatting that does not make a resume ugly
ATS-safe does not have to mean lifeless. The goal is a clean hierarchy that software can parse and a recruiter can scan without effort.
Commercial bridge
- Use the guide to self-diagnose first.
- Use the paid lane when you want the fix done for you.
- No interview or employment guarantee is implied.
Keep the structure boring in the right places
- use clear headings like Experience, Education, Skills, and Projects.
- keep contact details as text, not only inside icons or images.
- avoid heavy tables, text boxes, layered graphics, and decorative columns.
- export a PDF only after checking that the text can still be selected.
Make it readable for humans
- keep role titles, companies, and dates consistent.
- start bullets with the work and outcome, not vague responsibilities.
- group skills by relevance instead of dumping every tool into one line.
- leave enough white space for quick review.
When to use the paid fix
- the resume looks polished but keeps getting no response.
- you need a cleaner version plus a target-role keyword pass.
- you want formatting and wording corrected together.
Turn this into a finished resume
OfficeTool can apply the checklist to your current resume, align it to a target role, and return a corrected version through the manual review workflow.