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Resume formatting for Ashby applications

Use this guide to prepare a readable application document by checking extracted text, section order, dates, links, and the employer's current instructions.

When the guide and product differ, follow the current labels in the product.

Check the resume before an Ashby application

An ATS check should inspect the exported file and observable fields, not promise a universal score. Confirm the employer’s instructions first because systems and configurations differ.

Observable checks

File text

Select and copy text from the exported file. If the result is empty or scrambled, repair the source or export.

Core sections

Keep contact details, experience, education, and skills under clear headings and in a readable order.

Dates and titles

Check that employer names, job titles, locations, and date ranges stay attached to the right entry.

Job evidence

Use the target job’s actual terms only where your experience supports them; do not paste a keyword block.

Fix in this order

Readability

Repair missing or reordered text before changing wording.

Structure

Simplify columns, tables, floating text, icons, or headers only when they break extraction.

Content

Add missing role evidence and exact terminology after the file parses cleanly.

Final upload

Open the uploaded preview when available and confirm the selected file and current version.

Apply this guide to a real decision

Diagnose

Check the employer-specific questions and the attached resume together; note any answer that depends on role scope or location.

Decision rule

Use the resume format requested in the posting and answer structured questions from the same source records.

Do not proceed when

Do not reuse a previous answer when the question, role, or legal scope differs.

Evidence boundary

This check can reveal document risk, not the employer’s parser configuration, ranking logic, or hiring decision.

Sources and boundaries1
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References
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Frequently asked questions

Check the document the employer will receive.

Open the ATS resume checker, inspect extracted text and reading order, then fix only issues confirmed in the document.