Resume Formatting Rules That Still Matter in 2023

Every year brings new predictions that resume formatting no longer matters — that AI will read everything and humans will look past visual noise. Every year, those predictions are wrong. Formatting still determines whether your resume clears ATS parsing, whether a recruiter gives it more than six seconds of attention, and whether it projects the professionalism your application needs.

The Non-Negotiable Formatting Foundations

Length: one page for under ten years of experience, two pages maximum for senior roles. Any longer and you're announcing that you cannot edit — a poor first impression. Font: serif fonts like Georgia or Times New Roman for traditional industries; sans-serif like Calibri or Arial for tech and creative fields. Font size: 10.5 to 12 points for body text, 14 to 16 for your name.

Margins: 0.75 to 1 inch on all sides. Narrower than 0.5 inches makes the document feel cramped; wider than 1.25 inches wastes space and makes the resume look sparse. White space is your friend — it guides the reader's eye and signals confidence.

What Modern Formatting Should Include

Section Headers

Use clear, standard section headers: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills. Avoid creative labels like "My Story" or "Where I've Been" — ATS systems look for conventional headers to map your content correctly. Bold headers with slightly larger font size (12-13pt) create visual hierarchy without relying on color.

Bullet Points

Bullets should begin with a strong action verb and run no more than two lines. If a bullet requires three lines to make its point, it has two points inside it — split it. Aim for four to six bullets per role, not a comprehensive job description. Recruiters read bullets selectively; make each one count independently.

• Use a single column layout for ATS submissions; two columns for direct human review
• Avoid tables, text boxes, and headers/footers — ATS often cannot parse these
• Use bold sparingly to highlight key achievements, not entire sentences
• Keep dates right-aligned in a consistent format throughout
• Do not use icons, charts, or infographic elements in ATS-submitted resumes

File Format: PDF vs. DOCX

Submit PDF when the posting says "PDF preferred" or makes no specification and the role is senior. Submit DOCX when the posting specifies it or when applying through a large corporate ATS portal, which often parses Word documents more reliably. Never submit a .pages or .odt file — these convert unpredictably.

ApplyGlide generates resumes in both PDF and DOCX formats, with formatting calibrated for ATS compatibility and human readability simultaneously.