How to Create an ATS-Friendly Resume in 2026: Pass Workday, Taleo & Greenhouse (85%+ Success Rate)

Last Updated: January 2026 | Master ATS optimization and ensure your resume reaches human recruiters.

To create an ATS-friendly resume that passes Workday, Taleo, and Greenhouse: use simple formatting (single column, standard fonts like Arial or Calibri), standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills), include relevant keywords from job descriptions naturally, avoid graphics/tables/images, use Word (.docx) or text-based PDF format, and maintain consistent formatting. This increases your ATS pass rate from 25% to 85%+.

Creating an ATS-friendly resume is essential in 2026, as 75% of resumes are rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) before human review. Here's a comprehensive guide to ensure your resume passes ATS screening for Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse, and other major systems:

How to Pass Workday ATS in 2026

Workday is used by 40%+ of Fortune 500 companies. To pass Workday ATS: use simple formatting, standard section headings, include relevant keywords naturally, quantify achievements, and ensure all text is machine-readable. Workday prefers keyword-focused matching and parses standard sections well.

How to Pass Taleo ATS (Oracle)

Taleo requires structured format with standard section names essential. Use consistent date formatting (MM/YYYY), prioritize skills section, and maintain simple layout. Taleo is strict on formatting, so avoid graphics, tables, or complex layouts.

How to Pass Greenhouse ATS (Tech Companies)

Greenhouse parses well-structured resumes and focuses on experience section. Values quantified achievements and heavily weights technical skills. Use standard headings, include relevant keywords, and highlight technical expertise clearly.

Understanding ATS Systems

What is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by 98% of Fortune 500 companies to screen resumes. It:

Parses your resume to extract information
Matches your qualifications to job requirements
Ranks candidates by relevance
Filters out unqualified applicants

The problem: If your resume doesn't pass ATS, it never reaches human recruiters.

What Fonts Work Best for ATS Systems?

Best fonts for ATS: Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman (10-12pt). These are standard fonts that all ATS systems can read reliably. Avoid decorative fonts, custom fonts, or fonts with special characters. Stick to one font throughout your resume for consistency.

1. Use ATS-Friendly Formatting

✅ DO:

Simple, clean layout - Single column, standard margins
Standard fonts - Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman (10-12pt)
Standard section headings - "Experience", "Education", "Skills", "Summary"
Bullet points - Easy for ATS to parse
Consistent formatting - Same date format throughout (MM/YYYY)
White space - Adequate spacing between sections

❌ DON'T:

Graphics, logos, or images (ATS cannot read them)
Tables or multi-column layouts (confusing for ATS)
Headers/footers (many ATS systems ignore them)
Special characters (•, →, ✓) - Use standard bullets instead
Complex formatting (text boxes, shapes, watermarks)
Scanned PDFs (they're images, not text)

What File Format is Best for ATS: Word vs PDF?

Microsoft Word (.docx) is preferred by most ATS systems (Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse). Text-based PDFs also work but Word is safer. Avoid scanned PDFs (images, not readable), images (.jpg, .png), and Google Docs (export to Word first). Always test by copying text to Notepad to verify readability.

2. Choose the Right File Format

Best formats for ATS:

Microsoft Word (.docx) - Preferred by most ATS systems
PDF (text-based) - Also accepted, but Word is safer

Avoid:

Scanned PDFs (images, not readable)
Images (.jpg, .png)
Google Docs (export to Word first)
Complex layouts that don't convert well

Pro tip: Always test by copying your resume text into Notepad. If all information is readable, your format is likely ATS-compatible.

3. Optimize Keywords Strategically

Why keywords matter:

ATS systems match your resume against job descriptions using keywords. Without relevant keywords, your resume won't rank high enough to pass screening.

How to find keywords:

Read the job description carefully
Identify required skills, qualifications, and experience
Note industry-specific terminology
Include exact phrases from the job posting (when natural)

Where to place keywords:

Professional Summary (top of resume - highest priority)
Job titles - Use industry-standard titles
Experience descriptions - Naturally integrate keywords
Skills section - List all relevant skills
First 1/3 of resume - ATS gives more weight to top content

Keyword density:

Aim for 2-3% keyword density
Use keywords naturally (avoid keyword stuffing)
Include synonyms and related terms
Use variations: "managed" and "management", "developed" and "development"

4. Use Standard Section Headings

ATS systems look for standard section names to categorize information. Use these exact headings:

Standard sections:

"Professional Summary" or "Summary"
"Work Experience" or "Experience"
"Education"
"Skills"
"Certifications" (optional)
"Languages" (optional)

Avoid creative headings:

❌ "Career Journey" → ✅ "Experience"
❌ "Academic Background" → ✅ "Education"
❌ "What I Bring" → ✅ "Skills"

5. Structure Your Content Properly

Contact Information:

Full name
Phone number (standard format: (555) 123-4567)
Email address
Location (City, State or City, Country)
LinkedIn profile (optional but recommended)

Professional Summary:

2-3 sentences
Include key skills and years of experience
Use keywords from job description
Quantify achievements when possible

Work Experience:

Reverse chronological order (most recent first)
Format: Job Title | Company Name | Dates (MM/YYYY - MM/YYYY)
3-5 bullet points per position
Use action verbs: "Led", "Developed", "Managed", "Increased"
Quantify achievements: "Increased sales by 25%", "Managed team of 10"

Education:

Format: Degree | Institution | Year
Include GPA if 3.5+ (optional)
Relevant coursework (if recent graduate)

Skills:

List technical and soft skills
Match skills to job requirements
Use industry-standard terminology
Group related skills together

6. Optimize for Specific ATS Systems

Different companies use different ATS systems. Here are the major ones:

Workday (40%+ of Fortune 500):

Prefers simple formatting
Good at parsing standard sections
Keyword-focused matching
Quantified achievements help

Taleo (Oracle):

Requires structured format
Standard section names essential
Consistent date formatting critical
Skills section very important

Greenhouse (Tech companies):

Parses well-structured resumes
Focuses on experience section
Values quantified achievements
Technical skills heavily weighted

Lever (Startups):

User-friendly interface
Values concise resumes (1-2 pages)
Focuses on experience and skills
Less strict on formatting

7. Avoid Common ATS Mistakes

Mistake #1: Using Graphics or Images

Problem: ATS cannot read images
Fix: Remove all graphics, use text only

Mistake #2: Complex Tables or Columns

Problem: ATS struggles with multi-column layouts
Fix: Use single column, linear format

Mistake #3: Non-Standard Section Headings

Problem: ATS may not recognize creative headings
Fix: Use standard section names

Mistake #4: Scanned PDF

Problem: Scanned PDFs are images, not text
Fix: Use text-based Word or PDF

Mistake #5: Missing Keywords

Problem: ATS can't match you without keywords
Fix: Include relevant keywords from job description

8. Test Your Resume for ATS Compatibility

Manual testing:

Copy all text from your resume
Paste into Notepad or plain text editor
Verify all information is readable and complete
Check that dates, names, and skills are correctly formatted

Online ATS testing tools:

Jobscan - Compares your resume to job description
Resume Worded - ATS compatibility checker
VMock - Resume analysis and scoring
TopCV ATS Score Calculator - Free ATS compatibility test

What to look for:

ATS compatibility score of 80%+
All text is selectable and readable
No formatting issues
Keywords are properly identified
Sections are correctly categorized

9. Tailor Your Resume for Each Application

Why tailoring matters:

ATS systems match your resume against specific job requirements. A generic resume won't rank as high as a tailored one.

How to tailor:

Read the job description carefully
Identify required skills and qualifications
Adjust your professional summary to match
Reorder skills to highlight relevant ones
Emphasize relevant experience
Include keywords from the job posting

Time-saving tip: Create a master resume with all your experience, then create tailored versions for different job types.

Quick ATS Optimization Checklist

Use this checklist before submitting your resume:

Formatting:

Simple, single-column layout
Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
Standard section headings
No graphics, images, or tables
No headers/footers
Text-based file (Word or PDF)
Consistent date format (MM/YYYY)

Content:

Professional summary with keywords
Relevant keywords from job description
Quantified achievements
Industry-standard terminology
Complete contact information
Proper section structure

Testing:

Tested with ATS compatibility tool
ATS score 80%+
All text is selectable
Resume readable in plain text
No formatting issues

Frequently Asked Questions

What file format is best for ATS?

Microsoft Word (.docx) is preferred by most ATS systems. Text-based PDFs also work, but Word is safer.

What keywords should I include in my resume?

Extract keywords from the job description, including required skills, qualifications, industry terms, and action verbs. Include them naturally throughout your resume.

How do I know if my resume is ATS-friendly?

Test it by copying all text into Notepad - if everything is readable, it's likely ATS-compatible. Use online ATS testing tools for a compatibility score.

Can I use graphics or images on my resume?

No, ATS systems cannot read images. Use text only for maximum ATS compatibility.

What are the most common ATS systems?

Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse, Lever, and iCIMS are among the most common ATS systems used by companies.

Free ATS Resume Checker Tools

Test your resume with free ATS checkers: Jobscan (compares resume to job description), Resume Worded (ATS compatibility checker), VMock (resume analysis and scoring), and TopCV ATS Score Calculator (free ATS compatibility test). Aim for 80%+ ATS compatibility score.

ATS Resume Keywords: How to Find and Use Them

Extract keywords from job descriptions: required skills, qualifications, industry terms, and action verbs. Include them naturally in professional summary (highest priority), job titles, experience descriptions, and skills section. Aim for 2-3% keyword density naturally, not stuffed.

Conclusion

Creating an ATS-friendly resume requires:

Simple formatting - No graphics, tables, or complex layouts
Standard structure - Use standard section headings
Keyword optimization - Include relevant keywords naturally
Proper file format - Word (.docx) or text-based PDF
Tailoring - Customize for each job application
Testing - Verify ATS compatibility before submitting

Statistics to remember:

75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before human review
98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS systems
Proper ATS optimization can increase pass rate from 25% to 85%+

Optimizing your resume for ATS systems can be time-consuming, especially if you're applying to multiple jobs or countries. If you want to ensure your resume passes ATS screening with an 85%+ pass rate, consider using an AI-powered resume optimization service.

TopCV.io's CrossBorder CV specializes in ATS optimization and can help you optimize for all major ATS systems (Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS, and more), identify and naturally integrate relevant keywords, ensure ATS-friendly formatting that works across all systems, and adapt for different countries and ATS systems.

Related Articles:

How to Tailor Your Resume for Each Job - Learn how to customize your resume for each application
ATS Optimization Complete Guide - Comprehensive ATS optimization strategies
Resume vs CV Differences - Understand format requirements by country
Free ATS Score Calculator - Test your resume's ATS compatibility

Whether you're applying to one country or multiple countries, proper ATS optimization is essential. A well-optimized resume significantly increases your chances of getting interviews.

Remember: Your resume needs to pass ATS before it reaches human recruiters. Investing in proper ATS optimization is investing in your job search success.