Formatting & ATS FAQs: Color, File Names and ATS Scores

These questions go a step past the Formatting & ATS answers in our Resume & Career FAQs: which font to use, how much color is fine, what to name your file, how to test what an applicant tracking system (ATS) reads from your resume and what an ATS score means. Each answer links to a full guide where we have one.

More articles: Applicant Tracking System

Formatting and ATS questions

• What font should I use on my resume?

  Pick a common, easy-to-read font such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman, and use it for the whole resume. Common fonts are installed on most computers, so your file looks the way you set it when an employer opens it. An unusual font in a Word file can be swapped for a default, which can shift your layout. Use bold for headings rather than a second font; our layout guide covers choosing a resume font style.

• Should a resume have color?

  A little color is usually fine, such as one dark accent color on your name or section headings, as long as the main text stays black on a white background. In traditional fields such as law or finance, plain black and white is the safer choice. Pick a shade that still reads clearly when the page is printed or viewed in black and white, and use bold rather than color to show what matters most.

• What should I name my resume file?

  Use your full name and the word "resume," such as Jane-Doe-Resume.pdf. When you tailor a version for one job, add the job title, such as Jane-Doe-Resume-Marketing-Manager.pdf. Leave out version numbers and words like "final" or "new," and if the job posting asks for a particular file name, use that instead. Separate the words with hyphens or underscores rather than spaces, and skip symbols such as # or &, so the name stays readable wherever you upload it.

• How can I check if my resume is ATS-friendly?

  Copy all the text in your resume file and paste it into a plain-text editor, such as Notepad or TextEdit in plain-text mode. What you see there is roughly what an applicant tracking system (ATS) can pull from the file. Your name, contact details, headings, job titles, dates and bullets should all appear in the right order, with nothing missing or jumbled. When an application form fills in your details from your resume, check which fields come out wrong before you submit. If anything is lost, simplify the layout so software can read it and test again.

• What is an ATS score?

  An ATS (applicant tracking system) score usually means the number a resume-checking tool gives your resume, based on how closely your wording matches a job posting and how cleanly the tool could read your file. Each tool scores in its own way, with no standard scale or passing mark, and the number can't tell you how an employer's own system will treat your application. Treat the report as a list of things to check, such as layout problems or terms from the job posting you left out, and don't raise the number by adding skills you don't have.

Related guides

• How to Beat an Applicant Tracking System in the Age of AI
• The Best Resume Dimensions, Margins, and Layouts

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