Most medium and large employers, and almost every recruitment agency, put your CV through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a person reads it. The software turns your file into text, splits it into sections, and lets recruiters search and filter candidates. If your CV does not come through cleanly, a recruiter searching for your skills may never see you.
The good news: an ATS-friendly CV is simply a clear, well-structured CV. You do not need tricks. You need a layout software can read and content that matches the job.
What an ATS does with your CV
An ATS does three main things:
- Reads the file. It extracts the text from your PDF or Word document. Text inside images, text boxes, headers and footers, or complex tables is often lost or jumbled.
- Sorts the text into fields. It looks for headings such as Experience, Education and Skills, and tries to find job titles, employers and dates.
- Makes you searchable. Recruiters search for skills, titles and keywords, and the system ranks or filters candidates. Some systems also screen with knockout questions such as location or work authorisation.
There is no single universal "ATS score". Each system and each recruiter works differently. That is why the safest approach is to make your CV easy to read and clearly relevant to the job. Read more in ATS score myths.
Layout: keep it simple
- Use a single-column layout. Two columns look good to people but are often read left to right across both columns, mixing your skills into your job descriptions.
- Use standard headings: Profile or Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications, Languages.
- Put your name and contact details in the main body, not in the page header, which some systems skip.
- Avoid text boxes, icons for contact details, skill bars, charts and photos of text.
- Use a common font such as Calibri, Arial or Helvetica at 10 to 12 points.
- Keep dates in one clear format, for example Mar 2021 – Jun 2024 or 03/2021 – 06/2024, and use the same format everywhere.
File type: PDF or Word?
Modern systems read both. A text-based PDF (one where you can select and copy the text) keeps your layout exactly as you designed it. Some employers and older systems ask for Word (.docx) specifically. If the job posting names a format, use it. Never upload a scanned CV or a photo of your CV.
Content: match the job, honestly
Software and recruiters both look for evidence that you fit the role:
- Use the job title from the posting where it truthfully matches what you did, for example in your profile line.
- Include the skills, tools and certifications the posting asks for, using the same words. If they write "Microsoft 365", do not only write "Office".
- Show results with numbers: "Reduced ticket backlog by 40% in six months" is stronger than "Responsible for tickets".
- Spell out abbreviations once: "Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)".
Never add skills or experience you do not have. A recruiter or interviewer will find out, and many employers check. Our guide on CV keywords shows how to use the job's words without stuffing.
A quick checklist before you apply
- Single column, standard headings, no text boxes or images of text.
- Contact details in the body, including city and country.
- Consistent dates on every role.
- The job's key skills appear in your experience, not only in a skills list.
- File named clearly, for example "Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf".
- You can select and copy all the text in the PDF.
Check your own CV
Upload your CV to our free CV checker to see how it reads, with a score and the top fixes, in seconds and without an account. When you have a job in mind, create a free account to see how your CV matches that specific job and create a tailored version.
Put it into practice with your own CV
Upload your CV, add a job, and see how you match before you apply.