FormattingApr 27, 2026·4 min read
Why columns and tables quietly wreck your resume
They read fine to you and scramble for the parser. The fix is boring and bulletproof.
Linearisation is the enemy
When a parser flattens your page into text, a two-column layout can interleave lines from both columns — so 'Skills: Python' ends up glued to a job title. You never see it; the recruiter's search does.
Tables split cells unpredictably
Dates and titles tucked into table cells often extract out of order or drop entirely. Your 2024 role can lose its dates and look like it never happened.
What to use instead
One column, left-aligned, dates on the same line as the role via simple spacing — not a grid. It reads cleanly for humans and extracts perfectly for machines.
Test it
Copy your resume text and paste it into a plain note. If the order reads like a sentence, a parser will read it the same way.