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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →A resume that is easy to scan puts the most relevant information in a clear, predictable order: use a simple single-column layout, familiar section headings, readable type, and concise bullets. “Six seconds” is shorthand associated with a historical eye-tracking study—not a universal timer applied to every recruiter or application.
How to format your resume for a quick first review
- Use a simple, single-column layout. Start with conventional headings such as “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.” CareerOneStop recommends a straightforward layout because some applicant tracking systems (ATS) may misread tables, text boxes, columns, logos, images, or graphics. Keep essential contact details in the document body rather than relying on a header or footer, which some systems may not read. CareerOneStop’s formatting guidance explains these cautions.
- Make the most relevant information visible near the top. Identify the role or specialty you are targeting, then foreground skills and experience that support it. Tailoring the opening portion of the resume is a practical way to help a reader locate relevant evidence; it is not a guarantee of a particular review time or outcome.
- Show work history in a familiar order. For a conventional work history, list jobs from most recent to oldest, with employer, title, and dates clearly identifiable. Use the same principle for education entries when it makes your relevant background easier to understand. New Jersey Career Services and Johnson & Johnson’s 2026 career guidance describe reverse-chronological ordering.
- Write concise bullets with evidence. Begin with an action, add useful context, and include a result when you can support it. New Jersey Career Services recommends action verbs, details, and results. Keep bullets focused rather than turning each role into a dense paragraph.
- Use readable, consistent typography. CareerOneStop recommends common fonts around 10–12 points and consistent spacing; New Jersey Career Services gives similar font guidance and recommends 1-inch margins. Use restrained emphasis to distinguish headings and role details. Do not shrink text just to force the resume onto a preferred number of pages.
- Check the exported file. Review the final document for broken line wraps, missing details, or layout shifts. If the employer has not specified a different file type, CareerOneStop recommends PDF to preserve formatting. Follow the employer’s application instructions when they do specify a format.
Which resume format should you choose?
The best format depends on whether your work timeline or transferable skills need the most explanation. Whatever style you choose, preserve a detailed, easy-to-follow employment history so a recruiter and an ATS can identify where and when you worked.
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| Format | What it makes easiest to see | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronological | A direct, reverse-chronological work timeline. | A solid history in the same field, particularly when recent roles support the target job. | Skills gained across roles may be less prominent than in a skills-led format. |
| Functional | Skills and capabilities, including transferable skills. | A career change or a background where skill groupings need emphasis. | If detailed work history is missing or hard to find, some ATS may misinterpret or reject the resume. |
| Combination | Transferable skills alongside a detailed work history. | A career change or mixed background where both capabilities and job chronology matter. | Needs clear organization so the skills section does not obscure employers, roles, or dates. |
These distinctions follow CareerOneStop’s overview of resume styles. For most conventional work histories, chronological ordering is the clearest default; use a functional or combination approach only if it improves the explanation of your fit without hiding your employment timeline.
What is the best resume format for ATS?
No layout can guarantee that every ATS will parse a resume correctly: systems and employer instructions differ. A single-column document with standard headings, selectable text, consistent dates, and contact information in the body is a low-risk choice. Avoid relying on tables, text boxes, multiple columns, images, graphics, logos, or header/footer text for information the system must capture. The USC Career Center’s resume format guidance also discusses ATS screening in its student-resume context.
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Use recognizable section labels rather than creative headings that may conceal what a section contains. Keep job titles, employers, and dates easy to distinguish; use clear date formatting consistently. Exporting a document as PDF preserves appearance, but the employer’s requested file format takes precedence.
Should your resume be one page?
Not necessarily. Length should reflect relevant experience and the norms of the application, not a rule that applies to every candidate. New Jersey Career Services says one to two pages in most circumstances; USC describes one page as a commonly used student format; UC Santa Barbara notes that two or three pages may be accepted for some experienced candidates. See New Jersey’s guidance, USC’s format guidelines, and UC Santa Barbara’s resume guidance.
Include relevant details that help establish your fit, and remove material that does not. If the content runs long, edit repetition before reducing font size or compressing spacing to the point that the page becomes difficult to read.
Should you send your resume as a PDF?
Use PDF when the employer has not asked for another format and you want the layout to remain consistent across devices. If an application explicitly requests a Word document or another file type, follow that instruction instead. Before uploading, open the exported file and confirm that the text, dates, headings, and contact details are intact and readable. CareerOneStop provides this PDF recommendation and file-format guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the “six-second resume scan” does—and does not—mean
The six-second claim is commonly attributed in a secondary account to a 2012 TheLadders eye-tracking study involving 30 professional recruiters. Six Second Resume’s explanation reports the attribution. It is a historical study finding, not proof that all recruiters today spend exactly six seconds on every resume. Treat the phrase as a reminder to make relevant details easy to locate, not as a rigid deadline or a promise that formatting alone will secure an interview.
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