Resume Tips to Get Shortlisted
Simple formatting and writing rules that help recruiters — and the software many of them use — read your resume properly.
How Recruiters and ATS Software Read Your Resume
Many companies and recruitment agencies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to store and search resumes. It pulls the text out of your file so recruiters can search it by skill, job title or location. A resume that software reads cleanly is also quicker for a person to scan.
6 Resume Formatting Rules
Use a single-column layout
Tables, text boxes and multi-column designs can come out jumbled when software extracts the text. One column reads correctly everywhere.
Stick to standard section headings
Use "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills" and "Projects" so both recruiters and software can find each section.
Save as a text-based PDF or Word file
A scanned photo of your resume cannot be searched. Export from Word or Google Docs so the text can be selected.
Match the words in the job description
If the listing says "Tally Prime" or "Key Account Management" and you have that skill, use the same words rather than a synonym.
Avoid putting text inside images
Skill bars, icons and designs exported as images are invisible to software that reads text. Write skills out in words.
Write dates the same way throughout
Use "Month Year – Month Year" (for example "Jan 2023 – Aug 2026") so your experience can be calculated correctly.
Skills Recruiters Commonly Search For
Examples by industry. Only list skills you can discuss in an interview. Click a skill to copy it.
IT & Software
Sales & Business Development
Accounts & Finance
Customer Support & BPO
HR & Administration
Operations & Supply Chain
Show Results, Not Just Duties
A simple pattern: “Achieved [result], measured by [number], by doing [action]”. Compare these examples:
Customer support
“Responsible for handling customer calls.”
“Resolved 60+ customer calls a day with a 92% satisfaction score by following up on open tickets within 24 hours.”
Field sales
“Did field sales in the Surat territory.”
“Grew monthly sales in the Surat territory by 30% in one year by adding 45 new retail partners.”