How to Format a Resume in 2026

Resume formatting isn't just about looking professional—it's about getting past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and making it easy for recruiters to quickly assess your qualifications. Here's everything you need to know.

Why Resume Formatting Matters in 2026

Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to screen resumes before human eyes ever see them. These systems parse your resume's content, extract relevant information, and rank candidates based on keywords and qualifications. Poor formatting can cause even the most qualified candidate to be rejected automatically.

But ATS compatibility is only half the battle. Once your resume passes automated screening, it has approximately 6-8 seconds to capture a recruiter's attention. Clean, scannable formatting makes the difference between a thorough review and a quick rejection.

ATS-Friendly Fonts: What Works in 2026

Choosing the right font ensures your resume is both machine-readable and professionally presented. Based on 2026 ATS testing and recruiter preferences, these fonts are your safest choices:

Top Recommended Fonts

• Calibri: Modern, clean, and the default in many Microsoft products. Excellent readability both on-screen and in print.
• Arial: Classic sans-serif that's universally compatible with all ATS systems. Safe but can feel generic.
• Helvetica: Similar to Arial but slightly more refined. Great for design-adjacent roles.
• Garamond: An elegant serif option that works well for traditional industries (law, finance, academia) while remaining ATS-friendly.
• Georgia: Another serif choice with excellent screen readability. Good compromise between traditional and modern.
• Times New Roman: Still acceptable but increasingly dated. Use only for very traditional industries or academic CVs.

Fonts to Avoid

• Decorative or script fonts (Papyrus, Comic Sans, Brush Script)
• Narrow or condensed fonts that sacrifice readability
• Unusual fonts that may not render correctly across systems
• Multiple fonts in a single resume (pick one and stick with it)

Margin and Spacing Standards

Proper margins and spacing make your resume feel balanced and ensure no content gets cut off if printed or converted to PDF.

Margin Guidelines

• Standard: 1 inch on all sides. This is the gold standard. It provides plenty of white space, ensures nothing gets cut off, and looks professional.
• Minimum: 0.5 inches. Use this only if you absolutely need more space and have significant relevant experience. Anything smaller looks cramped and desperate.
• Recommended range: 0.75 to 1 inch. If 1 inch leaves too much white space (rare for most candidates), 0.75 inches is a good middle ground.

Line Spacing and Section Breaks

• Body text: Use 1.0 to 1.15 line spacing. Single spacing (1.0) maximizes space; 1.15 improves readability slightly.
• Between sections: Add 12-18 points of space before each major section header to create clear visual separation.
• Between job entries: 6-12 points is sufficient to distinguish different roles without wasting space.
• After headers: 3-6 points between a section header and its content keeps them visually connected.

Resume Layout: Structure That Gets Results

Your resume's layout should follow a consistent, logical structure that both ATS and human recruiters can easily navigate.

Standard Resume Sections (in order)

1. Header: Name, phone, email, LinkedIn URL, location (city/state). Portfolio or personal website if relevant. Keep it clean and don't clutter with unnecessary details.
2. Summary or Objective (optional but recommended): 2-3 sentences highlighting your value proposition. Include years of experience, key specializations, and 1-2 major achievements.
3. Professional Experience: Start with your most recent role. Include company name, location, your title, and dates (month/year format). Use bullet points for achievements—not duties.
4. Education: Degree, major, university, graduation year. GPA only if recent graduate and above 3.5. Relevant coursework only if you lack substantial work experience.
5. Skills: List technical skills, software proficiencies, languages, and certifications. Group them logically (e.g., "Technical Skills," "Languages," "Certifications").
6. Additional Sections (as relevant): Projects, publications, volunteer work, awards, professional affiliations. Only include what strengthens your candidacy for the target role.

One Column vs. Two Column Layouts

Stick with a single-column layout for maximum ATS compatibility. While two-column resumes can look visually appealing, many ATS systems read left-to-right, top-to-bottom, which can jumble your content. If you must use a two-column design (e.g., for creative roles with portfolio emphasis), test it by copying and pasting your resume text into a plain text editor to see if the order makes sense.

Formatting Your Experience Section

This is where most candidates make critical formatting mistakes. Here's the proven structure:

Job Entry Format

Bullet Point Best Practices

• Start with strong action verbs: Led, Developed, Implemented, Optimized, Designed, Managed, Increased, Reduced, etc. Avoid weak verbs like "Responsible for" or "Helped with."
• Quantify everything possible: Numbers stand out to both ATS and humans. Revenue impact, percentages, team sizes, time saved, customers served—any metric that demonstrates scope and impact.
• Use 3-5 bullets per role: More than 5 becomes overwhelming; fewer than 3 looks thin unless it's a very short-term position.
• Tailor to the job description: Mirror keywords and requirements from the posting. If they want "project management," use that exact phrase rather than "managed projects."

File Format and Technical Considerations

How you save and submit your resume matters as much as how you format it.

File Type

• PDF (recommended): Preserves your formatting across all devices and operating systems. Use "Save as PDF" rather than "Print to PDF" to ensure text remains selectable and searchable.
• Word (.docx): Some companies specifically request Word format. ATS systems handle .docx well, but formatting can shift between versions of Word.
• Never use: .pages (Mac), .odt, .rtf, or image formats like .jpg or .png. These are either incompatible with ATS or non-text-searchable.

File Naming

Use a professional, descriptive filename: FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf orFirstName_LastName_JobTitle_Resume.pdf. Avoid generic names like "Resume.pdf" or "MyResume_Final_v3.pdf."

Design Elements: What's Safe, What's Risky

Safe to Use

• Bold text: For job titles, company names, section headers, and key metrics.
• Italic text: Sparingly, for company names or to emphasize specific achievements.
• Horizontal lines: To separate sections (use simple lines, not decorative borders).
• Bullet points: Standard round or square bullets. Avoid custom icons or symbols.
• Two colors maximum: Black for body text, one accent color (navy, dark gray, deep blue) for headers or your name. High contrast is essential for accessibility.

Use With Caution

• Tables: Many ATS systems struggle with tables. If you use them, keep them simple and test how they parse.
• Text boxes: Often ignored completely by ATS. Avoid.
• Headers and footers: Some ATS can't read these. Keep all critical information in the main body of the document.
• Graphics, logos, or images: Unless you're in a creative field submitting a portfolio-style resume, skip graphics entirely. They confuse ATS and distract recruiters.

Never Use

• Charts, graphs, or infographic-style resumes (fine for portfolio supplements, not the main resume)
• Colored backgrounds or watermarks
• Columns that interfere with top-to-bottom reading flow
• Headshots or photos (common in some countries but can introduce bias in the US and are ATS-unfriendly)

Common Formatting Mistakes That Kill Applications

• Inconsistent formatting: Some job titles bold, others not. Some dates aligned right, others left. Consistency signals attention to detail.
• Tiny fonts to cram more content: If you can't fit your experience in 1-2 pages at 10-12pt font, the problem isn't formatting—it's editing. Cut less relevant content instead.
• Huge blocks of text: Paragraphs are harder to scan than bullet points. Use bullets for accomplishments and save paragraphs for your summary.
• Overdesigning: Your resume isn't a portfolio piece unless you're a designer. Clarity beats creativity for 95% of roles.
• Ignoring the job description: If a posting says "submit as PDF," don't send a Word doc. Follow instructions precisely.

Industry-Specific Formatting Considerations

• Tech: Clean, modern fonts (Calibri, Arial). GitHub and portfolio links in header. Skills section prominent near the top.
• Creative (Design, Marketing): You have more freedom for visual design, but readability still matters. Consider a portfolio link to showcase creativity while keeping the resume itself scannable.
• Finance and Consulting: Conservative formatting. Serif fonts like Garamond are acceptable. Emphasis on metrics and quantified impact.
• Academic and Research: CVs (not resumes) are appropriate. Multiple pages are fine. Include publications, presentations, grants in dedicated sections.
• Healthcare: Certifications and licenses prominent. Clean, professional formatting. Avoid any design elements that could seem unprofessional.

Final Checklist: Format Review

Before you submit, verify:

• ✓ Font is 10-12pt for body, 14-16pt for headers, ATS-friendly typeface
• ✓ Margins are 0.75-1 inch on all sides
• ✓ Consistent formatting for all job entries (title, company, dates, bullets)
• ✓ File saved as PDF with professional filename
• ✓ No text boxes, tables, or graphics that could confuse ATS
• ✓ Bullet points start with strong action verbs and include metrics
• ✓ Plain text test shows content in logical order
• ✓ Resume is 1 page (early career) or 2 pages maximum (10+ years experience)
• ✓ Contact information is accurate and professional (no old email addresses)
• ✓ No typos, grammatical errors, or formatting inconsistencies

The Bottom Line

Resume formatting in 2026 is about balance: sophisticated enough to look polished, simple enough to pass ATS screening, and clear enough for busy recruiters to quickly assess your fit. When in doubt, err on the side of simplicity. A well-formatted resume won't get you the job on its own, but a poorly formatted one can disqualify you before anyone reads your actual qualifications.