One-column or two-column resume: test what a parser reads
Applicant tracking systems turn your file into text. Systems differ, and we haven't tested all of them. What you can test is the text order that comes out of your own file.
Test your own file
Open the PDF reader check, drop in your resume, and read the text it extracts. If lines from a sidebar are mixed into the middle of your experience section, a parser reading in the same order would see the same mix.
Why one column is the safer default
- Text in one column has one reading order.
- Tables and text boxes are the usual cause of scrambled order.
- Headings with standard names, such as Experience and Skills, are easy to find in the extracted text.
TailorLock exports a single column with real text and no tables or images, for that reason.
When two columns are fine
If you send a PDF to a person, a two-column layout reads well. If you upload to a portal, test the extraction first and decide with the text in front of you.
The tailoring app opens with checkout. Get early access and we'll email you once when it does. Meanwhile, the match score and the other free tools work in your browser now.
Last checked 2026-11-14.