How to write an ATS-friendly CV

What is an ATS?

An applicant tracking system is the software many employers and agencies use to collect and search applications. It pulls the text from your CV into fields such as name, job title and dates, so recruiters can filter and search it.

You may have seen a claim that most CVs are rejected by a robot. There's no reliable evidence for the usual figures. In most cases a person still makes the decision, but they often find you by searching, so a CV that parses badly or misses key terms is harder to find.

How do you make your CV ATS-friendly?

• Stick to one column. Tables, text boxes and two-column layouts can scramble the reading order.
• Use standard headings: Profile, Experience, Education, Skills.
• Put contact details in the main body, as plain text, not in a page header or image.
• Keep one date format throughout, such as March 2021 to present.
• Make titles, employers and dates clearly separate.
• Use the advert's exact wording for skills you have, including both the full term and the abbreviation.
• Save as a Word document or a text-based PDF, unless the advert says otherwise. Avoid scanned images.

Should you hide keywords on your CV?

No. White text and keyword lists don't help: a recruiter reading the extracted text will see them, and it looks like what it is. Use the terms naturally, in lines that prove you've done the work.

Frequently asked questions

Is a PDF or Word CV better for an ATS?

Both are generally fine if the PDF is text-based and was not made from a scan. If the advert asks for a format, use that one.

Can I use a designed CV template?

For portals, use a plain one. Graphic templates suit a CV you hand to a person. CV Ready's three designs are all single column for this reason.

How do I check my CV is ATS-friendly?

Copy the text out of your file and paste it into a plain document. If the order is scrambled or details are missing, software will likely struggle too. CV Ready runs six ATS checks on every CV it writes.