Naukri.com receives over 6 million active job seekers at any given time. Recruiters on the platform use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes before a human ever sees them. If your resume isn’t built to pass that filter, your application disappears — no matter how qualified you are.
In 2026, Naukri’s ATS has become more sophisticated. Understanding how it works — and building your resume to beat it — is the single most impactful thing you can do to land more interviews. This guide covers exactly what an ATS resume format for Naukri looks like, what Naukri’s ATS checks for, and how to make sure your resume clears every filter.
How Does Naukri.com’s ATS Actually Work?
Naukri.com operates a proprietary ATS that scans every resume uploaded to the platform. When you apply for a job, the system extracts data from your resume and matches it against the job description. Resumes that score below a certain threshold are hidden from the recruiter automatically — no human review, no second chance.
The ATS evaluates four main factors:
- Keyword density — Does your resume contain the skills and terms mentioned in the job description?
- Format compatibility — Can the ATS read your resume’s text, or does it choke on images, tables, or unusual fonts?
- Section structure — Does your resume follow a standard format the ATS recognizes?
- Contact information — Is your name, email, phone, and location clearly readable in plain text?
Your goal is to make every one of these factors work in your favour. That means writing an ATS-readable resume in a clean, scannable format — not a beautifully designed document that looks pretty but contains invisible text the ATS can’t parse.
Naukri.com ATS — Recommended File Formats
Naukri.com specifically recommends uploading resumes in .doc, .docx, or .txt format. PDF files can sometimes cause parsing issues with their ATS, so whenever possible, export your resume as a Word document before uploading.
| File Format | ATS Parsability on Naukri | Recommended | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| .docx (Microsoft Word) | ✅ Excellent | Yes — Primary Choice | Easiest for Naukri’s ATS to parse; text is fully extractable |
| .doc (Legacy Word) | ✅ Very Good | Yes | Still well-supported; use if .docx unavailable |
| .txt (Plain Text) | ✅ Very Good | Yes — Safe Fallback | Safe choice; strips all formatting |
| ⚠️ Inconsistent | Only If Required | Some PDFs render as images; ATS may miss text | |
| .rtf | ⚠️ Limited Support | No | Not recommended; formatting may break |
What Is the Best ATS Resume Format Structure for Naukri.com?
The most ATS-friendly resume format for Naukri.com is a single-column, text-based layout with clearly labelled sections. Multi-column designs, tables, text boxes, and graphics all cause parsing failures. Here is the exact structure your resume should follow, section by section:
Section 1: Contact Information (Top of Resume)
Place your contact details at the very top of the document, in plain text format. Do not put them inside a header, a text box, or an image. The ATS needs to read this information directly — any visual styling applied to this section may cause the data to be missed or misread.
Name Surname Email: yourname@email.com | Phone: +91-XXXXX-XXXXX Location: City, State | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile
Naukri’s ATS extracts location data to match you with locally relevant jobs. Always include your city and state — vague locations like “India” are less useful and may reduce your visibility in recruiter searches.
Section 2: Professional Summary (3–4 Lines)
Write a concise professional summary immediately below your contact information. This section gives the ATS an early keyword-rich signal about who you are and what you do — and it gives the recruiter a reason to keep reading.
Keep it to three or four lines. Mention your years of experience (or that you are a fresher), your domain or industry, and two or three key skills that align with the jobs you’re targeting. Write in third person without pronouns.
Section 3: Skills Section
Place your core skills in a clearly labelled “Skills” section, positioned near the top of the resume. List both technical and soft skills. Naukri’s ATS pays close attention to this section when matching candidates to job postings — recruiters search by skill keywords directly.
Example Skills Section:
- Programming Languages: Python, Java, SQL
- Tools: Excel, Power BI, Salesforce
- Languages: English (Fluent), Hindi (Native)
- Soft Skills: Communication, Team Collaboration, Problem Solving
Section 4: Work Experience
This is the most important section for ATS scoring on Naukri. Follow this structure for every role:
Job Title | Company Name | Start Month Year – End Month Year (or Present) - Led cross-functional team of 8 members to deliver the project 2 weeks ahead of schedule. - Reduced operational costs by 23% through process automation using Python scripts. - Collaborated with product and design teams to ship 3 major feature releases.
For each bullet point, use action verbs (led, managed, built, improved, delivered) and include quantifiable outcomes where possible. Avoid passive language like “was responsible for” — the ATS and recruiters both respond better to active, results-oriented language. Never use first-person pronouns (“I led…”).
Section 5: Education
List your most recent and relevant education first. Include:
- Degree name and specialization
- Institution name
- Year of graduation
- Any relevant honours or CGPA (only if strong)
Do not include GPAs unless specifically requested or relevant to the role.
Section 6: Certifications and Additional Training
If you hold certifications relevant to your field — AWS, Google Analytics, Six Sigma, PMP, or any other professional qualification — list them here. Certifications carry strong ATS weight because they match directly against recruiter search terms. List the certification name, issuing organisation, and year.
Which Formatting Mistakes Cause the Most ATS Failures on Naukri?
The content of your resume matters enormously, but so does its format. Naukri’s ATS has specific formatting requirements that are easy to violate accidentally. Here are the mistakes that cause the most failures:
Why Multi-Column Layouts Kill Your ATS Score
Multi-column layouts, two-column designs, and tables are among the most common causes of ATS parsing failures. The ATS reads resumes top-to-bottom in a single stream. When your design forces text into multiple columns, the ATS may misread the order of information or skip entire sections entirely — and you’ll never know why your applications aren’t getting responses.
Recommendation: Always use a single-column layout with clearly delineated sections separated by line breaks and bold labels.
Should You Include Photos, Icons, or Graphics on Your Resume?
No. Recruiters love visually polished resumes. ATS systems cannot read images. Any profile photo, company logo, skill icons, or infographic elements you include will be invisible to Naukri’s parser — and in the worst cases, graphical elements can cause the entire document to be rejected or misread.
Keep the design clean and text-only. A professional resume doesn’t need graphics to impress — strong content does.
What Fonts Are Safest for Naukri’s ATS?
Use standard, universally readable fonts. These are the safest choices:
| Font | Recommended Size (Body) | ATS Safe? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arial | 10–12pt | ✅ Yes | Clean, modern; excellent for ATS |
| Calibri | 10–12pt | ✅ Yes | Default Word font; very safe |
| Times New Roman | 10–12pt | ✅ Yes | Classic; slightly less modern look |
| Garamond | 10–12pt | ✅ Yes | Elegant serif; fully readable |
| Decorative / Script fonts | — | ❌ No | ATS cannot read these; avoid completely |
Keep your name at 14–16pt. Body text at 10–12pt. Don’t use font colours beyond black.
StylingCV vs Canva vs Resume.io — Which Builder Makes the Best ATS Resume for Naukri?
There are many resume builders available for Indian job seekers. Here’s how they compare on the features that matter most for Naukri’s ATS:
| Feature | StylingCV | Canva | Resume.io |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 AI Agents for ATS Analysis | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| 95% ATS Pass Rate Claimed | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Unverified | ⚠️ Unverified |
| 39+ ATS-Optimised Templates | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (many) | ✅ Yes |
| Hindi Language Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Naukri.com Specific Optimisation | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Free Forever Tier | ✅ Yes | ✅ Limited Free | ✅ Limited Free |
| 6M+ Active Users | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (global) | ❌ No |
| Dedicated India / South Asia Market | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
For Indian job seekers targeting Naukri.com specifically, StylingCV offers the most targeted ATS optimisation — with 11 dedicated AI agents, a 95% ATS pass rate claim, and Hindi language support that the other platforms don’t provide.
How Does StylingCV Help You Build an ATS-Ready Resume for Naukri?
Building an ATS-compatible resume from scratch is time-consuming — and getting the format wrong, even slightly, can cost you interviews without you ever knowing why.
StylingCV is an AI-powered resume builder trusted by over 6 million users globally. For Indian job seekers, it provides:
- 39+ ATS-optimised resume templates designed specifically to pass applicant tracking systems
- 11 dedicated AI agents that analyse your resume against real ATS criteria and guide improvements
- A 95% ATS pass rate across major platforms including Naukri.com, LinkedIn, Indeed, and more
- 8 language options including English and Hindi — important for the diverse Indian job market
- A free tier with no credit card required — start building and testing your resume today
The platform’s AI agents check your resume section by section, flag ATS risks, and suggest improvements in real time. Build your ATS-ready resume for Naukri free →
Frequently Asked Questions About ATS Resumes on Naukri.com
Q: Does Naukri.com accept PDF resumes?
Naukri accepts PDF resumes, but .docx is strongly preferred for ATS parsing reliability. PDF files sometimes render text as images, which makes them invisible to Naukri’s ATS. Always upload .docx when the option is available.
Q: How does Naukri’s ATS score my resume?
Naukri’s ATS extracts keywords, structure, and contact information from your resume and matches them against the job description you’re applying to. Resumes with higher keyword relevance scores get surfaced to recruiters; those below the threshold are hidden automatically.
Q: Should I use a photo on my Naukri resume?
No. Photos are not read by ATS systems and take up valuable space on your resume. Most Indian recruiters on Naukri do not require or expect photos for online applications.
Q: How many skills should I list for best ATS performance?
List 8–12 of your most relevant skills. Include keywords from the job description. Avoid listing every skill you have ever used — focus on the ones most relevant to the roles you’re targeting.
Q: Is StylingCV free to use for Indian job seekers?
Yes. StylingCV offers a free tier with no credit card required. Indian users also benefit from Hindi language support and Naukri-specific ATS optimisation templates.