The Complete Guide to ATS-Friendly CVs

What Is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System is software that scans your CV before any human reads it. Over 90% of large employers use one. So do about 75% of mid-sized companies.

That beautifully designed CV with columns, graphics, and creative formatting? An ATS probably can't read it. It sees garbled text, misplaced sections, and missing keywords. Your application gets filtered out before a recruiter even knows you exist.

Formatting Rules That Matter

Use Standard Section Headings

ATS systems look for specific headings to categorise your information. Stick to "Profile," "Work Experience," "Education," and "Skills." Don't get creative with "My Journey" or "What I Bring." The software won't understand what you mean.

Ditch the Columns and Graphics

Most ATS systems read documents left to right, top to bottom. Multi-column layouts jumble your information. Tables cause problems. Text boxes get ignored entirely. Use a single-column layout with clear headings.

Save as .docx

Most modern systems handle both .docx and PDF. But if you're unsure, .docx is the safest bet. Avoid .pages files or image-based PDFs.

Keyword Optimisation

This is where most people go wrong. The job listing says "project management" but your CV says "managing projects." An ATS often looks for exact matches. Use the same words the listing uses.

Include both the full term and the abbreviation. Write "Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)" the first time, then "SEO" afterwards. That catches both search patterns.

And quantify things wherever possible. "Increased sales by 35%" beats "significantly increased sales" every time. Numbers stand out to both software and humans.

Check Your Score

Our ATS Resume Checker scores your CV against any job description. It shows which keywords match and which are missing. Takes about 10 seconds.

If you need to build a CV from scratch, the CV Builder generates ATS-optimised CVs with proper formatting and keywords built in.