OneTwo Resume

ATS-Friendly Resume Templates

Which layouts a tracking system reads cleanly, how to vet any template in two minutes, and the nine templates in our builder side by side. Already have a resume? Scan it first.

Updated October 9, 2026 · By Andrew Johnson

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The short answer

An ATS-friendly resume template is single-column, uses standard headings, keeps contact details as text in the body, and has no tables, text boxes, images or skill bars. Color and a good font are fine. Seven of the nine templates in our builder are single-column; two (Startup, Technical) use a side column. Basic is free with a free account; the other eight and downloads are Pro.

What makes a resume template ATS-friendly

A template is just a layout. What decides whether an applicant tracking system can read it is whether the text comes out in one clean reading order. These are the layouts you will meet in any template gallery — Canva, Word, Google Docs or a resume builder — and how they usually parse.

  • Single column

    Parses cleanly

    Text runs in one reading order, so parsers keep it in order.

  • Two columns

    Test before sending

    Some extractors read across both columns line by line and mix them.

  • Dark sidebar

    Test before sending

    Usually readable if it is real text; contact details in a sidebar are the usual casualty.

  • Table layout

    Test before sending

    Cells can be read row by row, splitting dates from the jobs they belong to.

  • Header graphic / logo

    Often loses text

    Text that is part of an image, or sits in the document header, may not be extracted at all.

  • Skill bars & icons

    Often loses text

    A bar or a star rating has no text a search can match; write the skill as a word.

Six common template layouts and how they tend to parse. Tendencies, not guarantees: parsers differ by employer, so test any template you plan to use.

How to vet any template in two minutes

  • Check yourself: Export to PDF, select all, paste as plain text

    Every line should appear in reading order, with dates next to their jobs.

  • Check yourself: Click on your name and email

    If you can't select them, they're an image or in a header — move them into the body.

  • Check yourself: Look for tables and text boxes

    In Word or Docs, layout tables show gridlines when you turn on "View gridlines".

  • Check yourself: Check the headings

    Experience, Education, Skills. Rename anything creative.

A manual test that works on any template, from any source. Or skip it and run the free scanner at the top on the exported PDF.

Canva templates in particular often combine several of these risks; see are Canva resumes ATS-friendly?

Our 9 templates, compared

Every template in the builder uses real, selectable text and standard headings, and you can switch between them in one click — the content stays the same. Here is how they differ.

  • BasicFree

    Single column

    Any industry; the safest choice for large employer portals

  • ClassicPro

    Single column

    Conservative fields: law, finance, government contractors

  • CompactPro

    Single column, tight spacing

    Long careers that need to fit on fewer pages

  • ExecutivePro

    Single column

    Senior roles where leadership comes first

  • ModernPro

    Single column

    Most roles, with more refined typography

  • GovernmentPro

    Single column

    Federal applications (USAJOBS)

  • AbstractPro

    Single column, decorative background

    Creative roles; the shapes are background, not text

  • TechnicalPro

    Main column + narrow right column

    Engineers: projects and stack up front

  • StartupPro

    Two columns, dark sidebar

    Startups and networking; test before big portals

The nine templates in the OneTwo Resume builder. Free = included in the free plan (build and preview online); Pro = with a Pro plan, which also unlocks downloads. Thumbnails are schematic, not screenshots.

Applying to a federal job? Whatever template you use, USAJOBS only accepts resumes up to two pages (USAJOBS Help Center).

The template matters less than what's in it

Once the layout parses, a template can't help you rank. What does: using the job's own terms for skills you have (ATS keywords) and bullets that show results. The rules and an annotated example are in the ATS-friendly resume guide.

No account

Free

Nothing is stored

  • ATS resume checker: score out of 100 + your top 3 fixes
  • Free tools (bullet point generator, synonyms, interview questions…)

Free account

Free

No card

  • Full checker breakdown: 5 area scores, what already works, all fixes, written review
  • Resume builder with unlimited AI improvements, 3 resume slots
  • 1 template (Basic) with online preview

Pro

$9.99 / 2 weeks or $14.99 / month

Renews until you cancel

  • Download your resume (PDF)
  • Tailor your resume to a job description
  • AI cover letters from your resume
  • All 9 templates, 100 resume slots
What each level includes, from our pricing page. The checker's free result never needs an account; downloads, tailoring and cover letters are Pro.

Frequently asked questions

What is an ATS-friendly resume template?

One whose text a parser can extract in the right order: a single column (or a very simple side column), standard section headings, contact details as text in the body, and no tables, text boxes, images or skill bars. Color and a good font are fine.

Are your resume templates free?

The Basic template is included in the free plan, with no card: you can build your resume in it and preview it online. The other 8 templates and downloading your resume are part of Pro ($9.99 every 2 weeks or $14.99 a month, renewing until you cancel).

Are Word and Google Docs templates ATS-friendly?

Many simple ones are. Check for tables used for layout, text boxes, and contact details placed in the document header — those are common in template galleries and are what parsers lose. Run the copy-paste test or scan the exported PDF before you send it.

Which template is best for ATS?

A single-column one. In our builder that is Basic, Classic, Compact, Executive, Modern, Government or Abstract. Startup and Technical use a side column; they are text-based, but if you apply through large employer portals, test them first or choose a single-column layout.

Does a federal resume have a page limit?

Yes. USAJOBS says federal agencies only accept resumes up to two pages, and it will not let you upload or build a longer one (USAJOBS Help Center, under the Merit Hiring Plan). Whatever template you use, keep a federal resume to two pages.

Start in the free Basic template

Upload your current resume and the builder moves it into the template, section by section, so you don't retype anything. Free account, no card; switch templates any time — downloads and the other eight templates are Pro.

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Published by OneTwo Resume, which makes the scanner on this page and an AI resume builder. Examples are illustrations, not captures of any specific employer's system; where we state a fact about ATS software or another company, it links to a source.