The Definitive Guide to the Best Resume Format to Pass ATS in 2025

In 2025, most companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Your resume format is the first hurdle. Choosing the wrong one is a fast way to get filtered out before a human even sees your application. Below is a practical breakdown of the most common formats and which one is safest for ATS parsing.

The Three Primary Resume Formats (ATS Pros and Cons)

1. Reverse-Chronological Format

This is the gold standard and remains the most ATS-friendly format. It lists your professional history starting with your most recent role. ATS systems are programmed to read dates and job titles sequentially.

• Pros: ATS is designed for this structure, clear career progression, easy for recruiters to scan.
• Cons: Highlights gaps in employment.
• Verdict: Highly recommended. Best for job seekers with steady career paths.

2. Functional (Skill-Based) Format

This format de-emphasizes dates and organizes your document around skill sets. While great for career changers, it confuses the sequential logic of most ATS software.

• Pros: Masks career gaps, highlights transferable skills.
• Cons: ATS struggles to map skills to timelines; often flagged as incomplete or intentionally deceptive.
• Verdict: Avoid. It often leads to lower ATS match confidence.

3. Combination (Hybrid) Format

The combination format includes a skills summary at the top (functional element) followed by a full reverse-chronological work history. When done correctly, this can be effective.

• Pros: Leverages a robust skills section while retaining chronological history.
• Cons: Can become too long; risky if the formatting is overly complex.
• Verdict: Use with caution. Only use if the layout is explicitly ATS-optimized.

The ATS-Proof Solution: Simple Reverse-Chronological

The safest resume format for ATS is a simple, single-column, reverse-chronological layout. It avoids complex columns, graphics, or tables that confuse parsers, allowing the ATS to extract your data accurately.