Can an ATS Read Two-Column Resumes and Tables?

A two-column resume can be read by some applicant tracking systems, but columns and tables can also disrupt the order of extracted text. There is no universal rule that an ATS rejects two-column resumes. Greenhouse, for example, lists tables and columns among formatting features that can contribute to an unsuccessful resume parse, but behavior varies by system.

To check your file, open the final version, select and copy all the text, then paste it into a plain-text editor. See whether your name, contact details, headings, jobs, dates, and skills appear in a sensible order, without separate columns becoming mixed together. This is a useful diagnostic, not proof of how an employer’s ATS will read the file. If the application shows parsed fields or a resume preview, check those too.

A single-column layout with standard headings and text-based bullet points is a safer choice when you want to reduce layout complexity. Keep important details out of tables, text boxes, and graphics, and use a clear reading order even if the design looks polished on screen. The ATS-friendly resume guide covers other formatting checks, while Democruit’s ATS Resume Checker provides diagnostic feedback, not a test of an employer’s system.