DrCVATS-friendly resume template: a free, simple layout that parses cleanly
Short answer: An ATS-friendly resume template uses one column, a standard font, plain section headings (Summary, Experience, Education, Skills) and no tables, icons or text boxes, so tracking software reads every line in the right order.
The best ATS-friendly resume template is boring on purpose: one column, real text, standard headings. Below is a template you can copy into Google Docs or Word, followed by the rules behind it.
The template
``` FIRST LAST City, Country · email@example.com · +1 555 000 0000 · linkedin.com/in/yourname
SUMMARY Two or three lines: your role, years of experience, core strengths and the kind of job you want.
WORK EXPERIENCE Job Title — Company, City Jan 2022 – Present • Achievement with a number: "Cut month-end close from 10 to 6 days by automating reconciliations." • Achievement tied to a skill from the job post. • Scope: team size, budget, markets, tools.
Job Title — Company, City Jun 2019 – Dec 2021 • …
EDUCATION Degree, Major — University, City 2019
SKILLS Skill 1 · Skill 2 · Skill 3 · Tool 1 · Tool 2 · Languages: English (fluent), Arabic (native)
CERTIFICATIONS Certification name — Issuer 2024 ```
Why does this layout work?
- Single column keeps the reading order identical for humans and parsers.
- Standard headings ("Work Experience", not "My Journey") map directly to ATS fields.
- Dates on the same line as the role let the system calculate your experience.
- A plain skills line gives keyword search something to match.
- Contact details in the body, not in the header area, so they're always captured.
Which design choices should you avoid?
| Avoid | Why | Use instead |
|---|---|---|
| Two columns / sidebars | Text gets interleaved | One column |
| Skill bars and ratings | No readable value | "Advanced Excel (pivot tables, Power Query)" |
| Icons for phone/email | Often dropped | Plain text |
| Text boxes and tables | Documented parsing failures (Greenhouse) | Normal paragraphs and bullets |
| Fancy fonts | May map to odd characters | Calibri, Arial, Garamond, Georgia |
Should you tailor it for every application?
A template gets you parsed; keywords get you found. Before each application, read the job post, pick its 8–10 most important skills and tools, and make sure each one you genuinely have appears in your summary, bullets or skills line.
Test before you send
Run your finished file through a free check at DrCV. You'll see how an ATS reads it and which target-role keywords are missing. If you'd rather not rewrite it yourself, DrCV can produce a tailored ATS version and a cover letter.
FAQ
Are Canva resume templates ATS-friendly?
Many aren't. Designs with columns, shapes, icons and text boxes often parse in the wrong order. If you use Canva, choose a single-column design and test it by copying the PDF text.
Should a resume have a photo?
In the US, UK and Canada, leave it out. In parts of the Gulf, Europe and Asia a photo is common, but it doesn't help an ATS and should never be part of an image-only layout.
How long should an ATS resume be?
One page for early-career candidates, two pages for most experienced professionals. An ATS doesn't care about length, but recruiters do.