Short answer: sometimes. Long answer: it depends on the ATS, the template, and how the columns were created. And "sometimes" is not a risk you want to take when your job application is on the line.
Let's break down exactly what happens when an ATS encounters a two-column resume, which systems handle it better than others, and when you should — and shouldn't — use a multi-column layout.
How ATS Systems Read Documents
Before we talk about columns, you need to understand how ATS parsing actually works.
When you upload a resume, the ATS doesn't "see" your document the way you do. It doesn't render the layout, appreciate the whitespace, or notice your tasteful color scheme. Instead, it extracts the raw text from the file and processes it in reading order — generally left to right, top to bottom.
For a single-column resume, this works perfectly. The text flows in the same order a human would read it. Your name comes first, then your summary, then your experience, then your education. The parser walks through it linearly and everything makes sense.
For a two-column resume, things get complicated.
What Happens When ATS Reads Two Columns
Imagine your resume has a narrow left column with your contact info, skills, and education, and a wider right column with your professional experience. Visually, it looks clean and organized.
But the ATS reads straight across. Here's what that actually produces:
What you designed:
Left column: "Python, JavaScript, React, Node.js, SQL"
Right column: "Senior Software Engineer, Acme Corp, 2022-2025. Led a team of 8 engineers..."
What the ATS extracts: "Python, JavaScript, Senior Software Engineer, React, Acme Corp, Node.js, 2022-2025, SQL, Led a team of 8 engineers..."
Your skills and experience are interleaved into a nonsensical stream. The parser tries to make sense of it — it looks for date patterns to identify jobs, skill keywords to populate skills — but it's working with scrambled data. The result is usually a garbled mess where skills are attributed to wrong sections, job titles are incomplete, and dates are mismatched.
In the worst case, the parser gives up entirely and reports that it couldn't extract any structured information from your resume.
It Depends on How the Columns Were Created
Not all two-column layouts break ATS parsing in the same way. The method used to create the columns matters significantly.
Tables (Highest Risk)
Many resume templates — especially those from Word's built-in template gallery — use invisible tables to create column layouts. A two-cell table with no borders looks like two clean columns on screen.
The problem is severe: many ATS systems either can't read table content at all, or they read it cell by cell in unexpected order. Some systems extract only the first column and ignore the second entirely. Others merge everything into a single string without any logical separation.
If your resume uses tables for layout, there's a high probability that large portions of your content are invisible to the ATS.
CSS/HTML Columns (Medium Risk)
If you're uploading through a web form that accepts formatted text, CSS-based columns can work on screen but fall apart when the system strips formatting. The column structure disappears and text flows linearly — which might actually be fine if the content makes sense in a single stream, but usually it doesn't.
Word's Column Feature (Medium-High Risk)
Microsoft Word has a built-in column layout feature (Layout > Columns). This creates "newspaper-style" columns where text flows down the first column and then continues at the top of the second. This is actually better for ATS parsing than tables because the reading order follows the visual order. But many ATS systems still mishandle it, especially when sections span across column boundaries.
Text-Based Alignment with Tabs (Lower Risk)
Some resumes fake a two-column look using tab stops — for example, putting a job title on the left and dates on the right of the same line using a right-aligned tab. This is actually fine for most ATS systems because it's a single column with inline formatting, not a true multi-column layout.
True Two-Column PDF Layout (Variable Risk)
PDF files can encode column layouts in different ways depending on how they were created. Some PDFs store text in logical reading order (column 1 first, then column 2) regardless of visual position. Others store text in the order it was placed on the page, which can be across columns.
Modern ATS systems like Greenhouse and Lever have improved their PDF parsing significantly and can often handle two-column PDFs correctly. Older systems like Taleo and some versions of iCIMS still struggle.
The problem is: you rarely know which ATS the company uses.
Which ATS Systems Handle Columns Better?
Here's a rough breakdown based on how current systems perform:
Generally handle columns well:
- Greenhouse (modern parser, handles most layouts)
- Lever (good at detecting column boundaries)
- Ashby (newer system, well-built parser)
- Workday (depends on the specific configuration)
- iCIMS (newer versions are better, older ones struggle)
- BambooHR (basic parsing, columns often cause issues)
- Taleo (Oracle's legacy system, still widely used)
- Older enterprise systems
- Custom-built ATS platforms
When Two Columns Are OK
There are legitimate situations where a two-column resume is fine:
Emailing directly to a hiring manager. If your resume goes straight to a person's inbox — no online application, no ATS involved — formatting doesn't matter for parsing. Use whatever layout looks best.
Networking events and career fairs. When you're handing someone a physical or digital copy, ATS compatibility is irrelevant. A visually striking two-column resume can make a stronger impression in person.
Creative and design roles. If you're applying for a graphic design, UX, or creative director position, the visual quality of your resume is part of the evaluation. Many creative agencies review resumes manually anyway.
When the company explicitly says format doesn't matter. Some job postings or company career pages note that they manually review all applications. In these cases, optimize for human readability.
Portfolio submissions. If you're attaching your resume to a portfolio site or including it in a design portfolio, visual appeal takes priority.
When to Absolutely Stick With One Column
Applying through any online job portal. Indeed, LinkedIn Easy Apply, company career pages — all of these feed into ATS systems. Single column is the only safe choice.
You don't know what ATS the company uses. This is the default. Unless you have specific knowledge of the company's system, assume the worst.
Large companies (500+ employees). Enterprise companies almost always use ATS systems, and they process high volumes of applications, meaning automated screening is more aggressive.
Applying to 10+ jobs. If you're in an active job search, you need a resume that works everywhere. Optimize for the lowest common denominator — which is a single-column, cleanly formatted document.
Government and institutional applications. Government hiring systems are often older and less sophisticated. Simple formatting is essential.
The Practical Strategy
Here's what actually works for most job seekers:
Create two versions of your resume. Your "ATS version" is a clean, single-column document optimized for parsing. Your "human version" is a visually polished document with whatever layout you prefer. Use the ATS version for online applications and the human version for everything else.
Test before you apply. If you're attached to your two-column layout, at least test it first. Upload it to an ATS simulator and see what gets extracted. You might find that your specific template actually parses fine — or you might discover that half your experience is invisible.
When in doubt, simplify. The cost of using a single-column layout is purely aesthetic — it might look less distinctive. The cost of a two-column layout that fails parsing is not getting interviews. The math is straightforward.
How to Test Your Resume's Compatibility
If you're unsure whether your current resume layout parses correctly, the fastest way to find out is to run it through an ATS checker. Upload your resume and see exactly what gets extracted — your name, email, skills, job history, education. If anything is missing or garbled, you know the layout is causing problems.
We built a free ATS simulator that shows you exactly what an ATS sees when it reads your resume. No signup required, no email needed, results in seconds. It'll tell you not just whether your resume passes, but specifically which fields are failing and why.