Format Resumes for Lever ATS Clients

When you submit candidate resumes to Lever clients, the system attempts to parse and extract information automatically. However, Lever shows resumes exactly as submitted, meaning formatting quality directly impacts how your candidates appear to hiring managers. The system struggles with complex layouts, tables, and image-based content, often resulting in garbled text or missing information. Understanding these limitations helps agencies prepare submissions that showcase candidates professionally while ensuring all critical information remains accessible and properly formatted.

Lever clients accept Word documents and PDF files for candidate submissions, but format choice significantly impacts parsing success. The system cannot read image files or process complex visual elements, making simple text-based formats essential. When bulk importing candidates, Lever requires specific filename conventions and clean formatting to ensure successful processing. Agencies should prioritize single-column layouts with clear section headers and avoid embedded tables or graphics that interfere with text extraction.

The most common rejection reasons stem from formatting issues that make resumes appear unprofessional or unreadable. Tables in Skills sections often convert poorly, creating jumbled text that confuses hiring managers. Complex multi-column layouts break apart during parsing, leaving critical information scattered or missing. Since Lever displays exactly what you submit, these formatting problems reflect directly on your agency's attention to detail and professionalism, potentially damaging long-term client relationships and reducing placement success rates.