Quick answer
For ATS uploads: don’t use columns. Use a single column and keep everything in the main text flow.
Some ATS might handle some column formats sometimes—but there’s no universal reliability. If the portal matters, optimize for the strictest parser: single column, standard headings, plain bullets.
What goes wrong: columns and tables can merge unrelated text (job titles + skills), reorder sections, or hide content entirely if it lives in text boxes or headers/footers.
What breaks parsing (and why)
High-risk layout elements
Safe / Recommended
Risky / Avoid
Safe / RecommendedLayoutSingle column, left-aligned text
Risky / AvoidColumns / sidebarsText can be read out of order or merged across columns
Safe / RecommendedStructureStandard headings: Summary / Experience / Education / Skills
Risky / AvoidTablesATS may read cell-by-cell and jumble content
Safe / RecommendedBulletsSimple bullets (• or -), plain text
Risky / AvoidText boxesFloating objects may be skipped or read in random order
- Two-column reading order: ATS often flattens the page to a single stream of text. Sidebars can interleave with your Experience section.
- Tables used for layout: even “invisible tables” (no borders) still exist in the file structure and can confuse extraction.
- Headers/footers: some parsers ignore them—so contact info placed there can disappear.
Safer alternatives (still looks clean)
Use whitespace instead of sidebars
Make it feel “designed” with spacing, consistent headings, and tight bullets—not with layout containers.
Skills as categorized lines
Instead of a 3-column skills grid, use: Languages: … Tools: … Methods: …
Align dates without tables
Keep job titles/companies on their own lines. If you need alignment, use simple formatting, not tables or text boxes.
Two-resume strategy (portal vs networking)
- Portal version: single column, no tables/text boxes, DOCX + PDF available.
- Networking PDF: if you want a designed layout, use it for direct email/LinkedIn—not ATS portals.
2 quick tests before you submit
Fast checks
- Plain-text paste test: copy/paste into Notepad—order stays correct.
- Autofill sanity check: after upload, verify job titles, companies, and dates in the form fields.
Sources
- Greenhouse Support: “Unsuccessful resume parse” (columns, tables, headers/footers, text boxes as common parse failure causes). View source
- MIT CAPD: “Make your resume ATS-friendly” (avoid tables/text boxes/graphics; keep formatting simple). View source
- UIC Office of Career Services: “Optimizing Resumes for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)” (single column; no tables/multiple columns/text boxes; avoid headers/footers). View source