Can a two-column resume ever pass ATS?

Some modern systems handle two columns reasonably well, but many still don't, and you can't tell which kind you're facing before you apply. Since a single-column layout parses reliably everywhere and costs you nothing in appearance, it's the safer default rather than a bet you have to win.

Are resume templates from Canva or Word ATS-safe?

It depends entirely on the specific template, not the tool that made it. Many design-forward templates use text boxes, tables, or columns for layout — any of which can break extraction. Check the finished file for the structural mistakes above, regardless of where the template came from.

Does font choice affect ATS parsing?

Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Times New Roman) extract cleanly. Highly decorative or script fonts can sometimes cause extraction errors, and custom icon fonts used to render symbols may not extract as anything meaningful at all. When in doubt, use a plain, common font.

Should I use bullet symbols or plain dashes?

Standard bullet characters (•, -) are safe and widely supported. Custom bullet icons from a symbol font are the risk — they can extract as garbled characters or nothing at all. If a bullet looks unusual on screen, it's worth checking how it extracts.

Is a scanned resume the same as a text-based PDF?

No, even though both are .pdf files. A text-based PDF was exported from a program that preserves the underlying text; a scanned PDF is effectively a photograph of a page. Try selecting a few words in the file — if nothing highlights, it's an image, and an ATS sees an empty document.

Formatting, not content

Common Resume Mistakes That Fail ATS Screening

These are structural mistakes — the kind that stop a system from reading your resume correctly before a recruiter ever sees it, regardless of which job you're applying for.

Looking for why your resume didn't match a specific job posting instead — missing keywords, unproven skills? That's a different question. See ATS rejection reasons for that side of it.

Check my resume ATS compatibility (free)

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Last updated: August 11, 2026

Multi-column layouts

Most systems read left to right, top to bottom, in one stream. A two-column resume gets read out of order — half a job title from the left column can end up stitched to a bullet from the right one.

Fix: Single column, full width, top to bottom.

Tables for core content

Tables are built for visual alignment, not reading order. Content inside table cells is frequently skipped entirely or extracted in the wrong sequence.

Fix: Use plain paragraph and list formatting instead of a table, even for a skills grid.

Text inside images, icons, or skill-bar graphics

Text extraction reads text. A skill rated with a graphic bar, a logo standing in for a company name, or a headline saved as an image contributes nothing — it's invisible to the system.

Fix: Every word that matters should be real, selectable text — never a picture of text.

Non-standard section headings

Section detection matches against a known set of labels. "My Journey" or "What I Bring" won't map to Experience or Summary, so that content can be filed as unknown and dropped from scoring.

Fix: Use Experience, Education, Skills, Summary, Certifications — plain and literal.

Scanned or image-only PDFs

A PDF made from a scanned page or exported as a flattened image contains no extractable text at all, regardless of how sharp it looks on screen.

Fix: Export directly from a word processor as text-based PDF or DOCX, and confirm you can select and copy the text.

Critical information in headers or footers

Many parsers skip header and footer regions entirely, since those areas are usually reserved for page numbers or running titles — not resume content.

Fix: Keep your name, contact details, and all resume content in the main body, not the header or footer.

Inconsistent date formats

Systems try to parse employment dates to build a timeline. "Jan 2022 – Present" in one role and "01/22 - current" in another can register as a formatting mismatch or a gap.

Fix: Pick one format — Month Year – Month Year — and use it for every role.

Unusual file types

Formats like .pages or .odt aren't reliably supported by every system, and some reject them outright before extraction even starts.

Fix: Submit as .docx or a text-based .pdf unless the posting specifically asks for something else.

Check your resume for these, directly

Rather than checking each item by hand, run your actual file through the checker and see which of these — if any — apply to it.

Free ATS resume checker

Want to understand why these mistakes matter mechanically? How ATS scans and reads your resume.
Want a full pre-submit checklist, not just the mistakes? 30-point ATS resume checklist.
Want the content-side reasons — keywords, proof, role match? ATS rejection reasons.

FAQ

Can a two-column resume ever pass ATS?: Some modern systems handle two columns reasonably well, but many still don't, and you can't tell which kind you're facing before you apply. Since a single-column layout parses reliably everywhere and costs you nothing in appearance, it's the safer default rather than a bet you have to win.
Are resume templates from Canva or Word ATS-safe?: It depends entirely on the specific template, not the tool that made it. Many design-forward templates use text boxes, tables, or columns for layout — any of which can break extraction. Check the finished file for the structural mistakes above, regardless of where the template came from.
Does font choice affect ATS parsing?: Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Times New Roman) extract cleanly. Highly decorative or script fonts can sometimes cause extraction errors, and custom icon fonts used to render symbols may not extract as anything meaningful at all. When in doubt, use a plain, common font.
Should I use bullet symbols or plain dashes?: Standard bullet characters (•, -) are safe and widely supported. Custom bullet icons from a symbol font are the risk — they can extract as garbled characters or nothing at all. If a bullet looks unusual on screen, it's worth checking how it extracts.
Is a scanned resume the same as a text-based PDF?: No, even though both are .pdf files. A text-based PDF was exported from a program that preserves the underlying text; a scanned PDF is effectively a photograph of a page. Try selecting a few words in the file — if nothing highlights, it's an image, and an ATS sees an empty document.