The three CV layouts, how each parses across the major ATS, what section order to use, and which file type to ship. With the file-naming convention recruiters actually search for.
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The format is not a stylistic choice in 2026. It is a parsing decision. Reverse chronological is the only layout that parses cleanly across every major ATS, averaging 97 percent extraction accuracy in 2026 benchmarks. Functional CVs fail roughly one in three parses and trigger an instant recruiter flag even when they do parse.
File type is just as decisive. The 2023 Jobscan recruiter survey found 75 percent of recruiters say file type is a top factor in whether a CV passes the initial ATS screen. The wrong export from Canva or Figma can drop your score from 90 to 0 because the parser sees image layers, not text.
The three picks on this page (layout, file type, file name) are the cheapest score gains available. None of them require you to rewrite a single bullet. For the content rewrite, see our 30-minute optimisation workflow. For the underlying parsing rules, see the ATS-friendly resume guide.
Pick one. Match it to your career stage and function. Then follow the section order under it.
Best for: Almost everyone
List your roles from most recent to oldest, with company first, role title second, dates and location below. The only format that parses universally across every major ATS. Recruiters expect it, parsers handle it, and the 2026 benchmark put extraction accuracy across Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, Taleo, iCIMS and SmartRecruiters at an average of 97 percent.
Parse rate: 97% average across 6 major ATS
Best for: Almost nobody, despite what older guides say
Groups skills together without tying them to specific jobs. Most ATS systems cannot parse this format correctly. Beyond the parse failure, recruiters dislike it because it hides career gaps and obscures who did what. The 2026 ResumeAdapter recruiter survey found functional CVs are flagged on sight, even when they parse.
Parse rate: 50 to 70% parse rate, recruiter disfavour high
Best for: Diverse skill sets, tech and product roles, career changers with strong transferable skills
A dedicated Skills block immediately after the Professional Summary, then standard reverse chronological work history underneath. Best of both for skill-dense functions. The 2026 trend toward skills-based filtering rewards it: candidates with explicit skills sections score up to 40 percent higher in ATS keyword matching, per recruiter survey data.
Parse rate: 90 to 95% across 6 major ATS
Same sections, ordered to put your strongest signal on page one. Recruiter eye-tracking research finds attention drops sharply after the first page, so the top half-page is where you must lead with strength.
The 2023 Jobscan survey found 75 percent of recruiters say file type is a top factor in passing the initial ATS screen. Match the file to the system, never let the system guess.
.docx
UseThe safest default in 2026. Highest parsing success rate across every major ATS. Submit this unless the posting specifically requests another format. The 2023 Jobscan study found 75 percent of recruiters cite file type as a top factor in passing the initial ATS screen.
Acceptable when text-based (exported from Word or Google Docs). PDFs from design tools like Canva or Figma often render text as image layers and break parsing. Always paste the PDF into a plain text editor to verify the words come back as words.
.doc
NeverThe old Word format from before 2007. Many modern parsers either reject it or strip the formatting on import. Always export as .docx instead.
.rtf
NeverSome ATS support it, many do not. Inconsistent. Skip.
.pages, .odt
NeverFormat support is limited and many parsers reject the upload outright. Always export to .docx or text-based PDF before submission.
.png, .jpg, scanned PDF
NeverImage-based CVs have no parsable text. The ATS sees nothing. The 2026 ManpowerGroup data shows image submissions are auto-rejected by every major system.
Recruiters sort 200 applications in their inbox by file name. A unique, searchable name keeps you findable. The convention every recruitment guide converges on is FirstName_LastName_Position.docx.
Bad
resume.pdf
Good
Jane_Doe_Marketing_Manager.docx
A recruiter sorting 200 applications cannot find you. A unique name makes you searchable in their inbox.
Bad
resume_v7_final_FINAL.pdf
Good
Jane_Doe_Marketing_Manager.docx
Version numbers in the filename signal mid-edit chaos. Ship one named version.
Bad
CV January 2026.docx
Good
Jane_Doe_Marketing_Manager.docx
Dates in the name go stale within weeks and make every old copy look outdated.
Bad
My CV.docx
Good
Jane_Doe_Marketing_Manager.docx
Possessive pronouns in the filename look like a first-draft naming convention. Format consistently.
The free checker runs your CV through each major parser and tells you whether the layout, file type and section order hold up.
Everything we get asked about CV layout, file types, file naming and section order in 2026.
ATS optimisation
A plain-English explainer: what ATS stands for, what the parser does with your CV, why 98 percent of Fortune 500 companies use one, and how an ATS resume differs from a regular CV. With the four rules that take you from a regular CV to an ATS-friendly one.
ATS optimisation
Real ATS-friendly CV examples by role: software engineer, marketing manager, finance analyst, nurse, teacher, product manager and more. Each with a parser-tested layout, sample bullets that score, and what to change for your target role.
ATS optimisation
Real 2026 data on what gets resumes rejected. 77 percent of hiring managers reject for typos. 84 percent for impersonal applications. 49 percent auto-dismiss obvious AI. The full list with the fix for each.
How applicant tracking systems actually work, what they extract, and where they cut your CV.
Read articleWhy typography matters for parsing, and the six fonts that always work.
Read articleWhen a one-pager helps and when a second page becomes essential.
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