Why Harvard-Style Resumes Fail ATS (and What Works Instead)

Classic academic layouts often confuse parsers. Here’s a modern, ATS-safe approach.

Why Harvard-Style Resumes Fail ATS (and What Works Instead)

TL;DR

Traditional formatting (columns, dense blocks, nonstandard headings) leads to parsing errors. Use standard headings, simple hierarchy, and keyword-aligned bullets. Vitae enforces ATS-first structure. $1/$3; free for first 20.

Table of Contents

  • What breaks in ATS
  • A safer layout
  • Checklist
  • FAQ

Checklist

Item Done
Standard headings ☐
Single-column layout ☐
Clean bullets ☐
Consistent dates ☐

Internal Links

/pricing · /faq

FAQ

  1. Can I keep columns? Avoid; use single-column.
  2. Do templates matter? Yes—prefer ATS-first ones.

CTA

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Why Harvard-Style Resumes Fail ATS (and What Works Instead)