Can an ATS Resume Have Columns? Why Two-Column Layouts Kill Your Score
Two-column resume layouts look polished but consistently fail ATS parsing. Here's what happens when a parser reads a multi-column resume and how to fix it.
Two-column resume layouts are popular for a good reason -- they let you fit more information on a page while looking organized and professional. The problem is that Applicant Tracking System software cannot read them correctly.
If your resume has a two-column layout, your ATS score is very likely suffering because of it.
How ATS Parsers Read Your Resume
ATS software extracts text from your resume to analyze it. This extraction process works linearly -- it reads from the top of the document to the bottom, pulling text in the order it appears in the file.
With a two-column layout, "left to right, top to bottom" means the parser reads across both columns on each line before moving down. Instead of reading your left column experience from top to bottom, then your right column skills from top to bottom, it reads them interleaved.
What your resume shows:
Left column: Software Engineer, Google, 2020-2024 | Built distributed systems serving 10M users
Right column: Skills: Python, Go, Kubernetes
What the ATS extracts:
"Software Engineer Google Skills: Python 2020-2024 Built distributed Go systems serving Kubernetes 10M users"
That text is incoherent. The ATS scoring engine cannot identify your job title, your employer, your dates, or your skills from this scrambled output. Keywords that are present in your resume fail to match because their context is destroyed.
The Section Identification Problem
ATS software is also trying to identify which section of your resume each piece of text belongs to. Is this text under Experience? Education? Skills? A contact section?
Column layouts make this impossible. When the left column has "Experience" as a header and the right column has "Skills" as a header, the parser reads them as a single line of text at the same vertical position. It cannot cleanly assign subsequent text to the correct section.
Which Resume Formats Actually Work
Single column, plain text structure. This is the gold standard for ATS compatibility. One column, left to right, with clear section headers. Every ATS system handles this correctly.
Single column with a brief header block. Your name and contact info at the top as a simple text block (not a table or text box), then single-column content below. This format works reliably.
What to avoid:
- Two or three column layouts of any kind
- Sidebar columns for skills, contact info, or education
- Tables used to create the appearance of columns
- Text boxes used to position content side by side
How to Convert a Two-Column Resume
If you have a two-column resume, the conversion process is straightforward:
1. Copy all the text from your resume into a plain text document
2. Organize it into sections: Summary, Experience (each job), Education, Skills
3. Rebuild in a single-column Word or Google Docs document using standard formatting
4. Use bold for company names and job titles, plain text for descriptions
5. Use a simple font: Arial, Calibri, or Georgia
After converting, run your resume through an ATS checker against a specific job description. You should see a significant improvement in your format readability score.
Frequently Asked Questions
What about a subtle two-column layout with just the dates on the right?
Even a small sidebar for dates can cause parsing issues. The safest approach is to put everything in a single column, with your employer, job title, and dates on the same line separated by a dash or pipe character.
Can newer ATS systems handle columns?
Some newer platforms are better at parsing complex layouts, but you cannot know which system a company uses. A resume that works on all systems is strictly better than one that works on some. There is no benefit to risking it.
Will a single-column resume look worse to human reviewers?
A clean, well-written single-column resume looks professional. The formatting minimalism that helps ATS parsing also tends to produce a clean, easy-to-scan layout that human reviewers appreciate. The resumes that "look impressive" with complex multi-column designs often look busy and hard to read when printed.
Related reading: Are Canva Resumes ATS Friendly? · Can an ATS Resume Have Color or a Photo? · 7 Common ATS Resume Mistakes to Avoid