Every ATS platform parses resumes differently. The same resume that clears Greenhouse cleanly may lose entire sections in Taleo. These guides cover what each system actually does and how to format your resume for it.
Why platform-specific formatting matters
Most resume formatting advice is generic. It tells you to avoid tables and text boxes — which is correct — but does not explain that Workday requires specific date formats, that Taleo often asks you to re-enter data manually regardless of your upload, or that Lever stores all applicants in a searchable database that recruiters query months after the original application.
The guides below focus on what each system does with your resume file, what commonly causes parsing failures, and how to tailor keywords for the way recruiters actually search within each platform.
General ATS formatting rules
These apply regardless of which system an employer uses:
- Use a single-column layout. Two-column designs cause parsers to interleave content from separate sections.
- Write contact information as plain text at the top — name, email, phone, city, LinkedIn. No icons without visible labels.
- Keep dates consistent: Month YYYY or MM/YYYY throughout. Avoid ordinal formats (Q1 2023) and ranges without clear separators.
- Use standard section headers: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Summary, Certifications. Avoid clever labels.
- Export as a text-based PDF or DOCX. Verify you can select all text in the PDF before submitting.
- Match the exact terminology from the job description for any skill or tool you actually have.
Related guides
Check your resume before you submit.
Paste the job description and see which keywords are missing — before the ATS filters you out.