7 Resume Formatting Mistakes That Get You Rejected by ATS Systems

You've spent hours crafting the perfect resume, tailoring your experience to the job description, and hitting submit with confidence. But weeks go by with no response. What went wrong?

The answer might surprise you: your resume may have never been seen by a human. Over 75% of resumes are rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) before they reach a recruiter's desk.

Let's dive into the seven most common formatting mistakes that trigger automatic rejection—and how you can avoid them.

1. Using Fancy Headers and Footers

Many job seekers put their contact information in headers or footers to save space. The problem? Most ATS software can't read header and footer content at all.

The fix: Place all your contact information in the main body of your resume. Your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL should be at the very top of the document—not hidden in a header.

2. Choosing Creative File Formats

Submitting your resume as a PDF might seem professional, but some older ATS platforms struggle to parse PDF files correctly. Even worse are formats like JPEG, PNG, or Pages files.

The fix: When in doubt, submit a .docx file. If the job posting specifically requests a PDF, make sure your PDF was created from a Word document (not from a scan or image).

3. Using Tables and Columns

Two-column layouts look sleek to human eyes, but they're a nightmare for ATS software. The system reads left-to-right across the entire page, jumbling your carefully organized sections into nonsense.

The fix: Stick to a single-column format. Yes, it might feel less modern, but it ensures every word of your experience gets processed correctly.

4. Including Graphics and Icons

Those skill bars showing you're "90% proficient" in Excel? The icons next to your contact details? ATS systems see them as nothing—literally. They can't process images.

The fix: Remove all graphics, charts, and icons. Express your skills in plain text. Instead of a visual skill bar, write "Microsoft Excel: Advanced (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, Macros)."

5. Using Non-Standard Section Headings

Getting creative with section titles like "Where I've Made an Impact" instead of "Work Experience" might seem memorable. But ATS systems are programmed to look for standard headings.

The fix: Use conventional section titles: "Work Experience," "Education," "Skills," "Certifications." Save your creativity for the content within those sections.

6. Embedding Text in Images

Some candidates create their resumes in design software and export them as images or PDFs with embedded text boxes. The result looks polished, but the ATS reads it as a blank page.

The fix: Build your resume in a word processor. Every character should be selectable text, not part of an image layer.

7. Forgetting to Include Keywords

Even with perfect formatting, your resume won't pass if it doesn't contain the right keywords. ATS systems scan for specific skills, job titles, and qualifications mentioned in the job posting.

The fix: Mirror the language in the job description. If they ask for "project management," don't just write "managed projects." Use their exact terminology where it honestly applies to your experience.

How to Test Your Resume's ATS Compatibility

The best way to check if your resume will pass ATS screening is to use a dedicated ATS checker tool. CVeezi's free ATS Score feature analyzes your resume against real ATS algorithms and shows you exactly what's working and what needs improvement.

The Bottom Line

Your qualifications deserve to be seen by a real person. By avoiding these seven formatting mistakes, you dramatically increase your chances of making it past the ATS gatekeepers and into the interview pile.

Remember: a beautiful resume that gets rejected helps no one. Focus on substance, use clean formatting, and let your experience speak for itself.

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