JOB 
⚠️ Formatting Mistakes That Break Your ATS CV
 |
| Learn which resume formatting mistakes prevent Applicant Tracking Systems from reading your CV and how simple layouts improve job application success. |
When applying for jobs online 💻, your CV is read by software first. This
software is called an
ATS (Applicant Tracking System) 🤖.
If your formatting is wrong, the system may fail to read your CV ❌ Let’s
learn what NOT to do.
📦 Tables, Columns, Text Boxes
Many ATS tools cannot read complex layouts:
- 🚫 Tables
- 🚫 Multi-columns
- 🚫 Text boxes
The information becomes invisible to the system 👻
🧑💻 Java Comparison:
Think of this like parsing JSON in Java. If the structure is unexpected, your
parser throws errors or returns null. ATS behaves the same way 🔄
📄 Header & Footer Problems
Placing contact info in header/footer may cause loss:
- 📧 Email hidden
- 📱 Phone missed
ATS may ignore these sections ❗
🧑💻 Java Comparison:
Like storing important config outside classpath — your application cannot
access it. Keep important data in main content ✔️
🖼️ Images and Icons
Graphics look nice for humans 👀 but software cannot read:
- 🚫 Icons
- 🚫 Images
- 🚫 Charts
ATS reads text — not visuals 📝
🧑💻 Java Comparison:
Like trying to extract text from an image without Optical Character
Recognition (OCR). Program sees pixels — not meaning.
🔤 Unsafe Fonts
Some fonts confuse parsing engines. Use safe fonts:
- ✔️ Arial
- ✔️ Calibri
- ✔️ Georgia
Avoid decorative fonts ❌
🧑💻 Java Comparison:
Similar to encoding issues. Wrong charset → unreadable text. Correct font →
clean parsing ✔️
🎯 Final Checklist
- 📝 Use simple layout
- 🚫 Avoid graphics
- 📄 Keep info in body section
- 🔤 Use standard fonts
Clean formatting helps ATS read your CV and move you closer to interviews 🚀
