How to Write an ATS-Friendly CV

When you apply for a job today, your CV is often read by software before a recruiter ever sees it. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) scan your document for relevant skills, job titles, and keywords, then rank or filter candidates. If your CV is structured clearly and matches the job description, you move forward. If not, it can disappear silently.

What an ATS actually looks for

An ATS parses the text inside your CV and stores it in fields: name, contact details, work history, education, and skills. It then searches those fields for keywords that appear in the job description. Formatting that looks nice to a human — tables, text boxes, graphics, columns — can confuse the parser and scramble your information.

• Standard section headings such as Work Experience, Education, and Skills
• A plain, single-column layout without text boxes or tables
• Consistent dates and job titles that match the advertised role
• Real, readable text (not an image of text) that the parser can copy

Match the job description

The single biggest driver of ATS rank is keyword relevance. Read the job posting carefully and note the specific tools, qualifications, and responsibilities it repeats. Then work those exact phrases naturally into your CV where they are true. If a posting asks for "Microsoft Excel" and "data entry," make sure those words appear in your skills and experience rather than only a vague phrase like "computer literate."

Do not invent skills to game the system. Only include keywords that genuinely describe your experience, so your CV stays honest in the interview.

Use plain, parseable formatting

Always save and submit your CV as a real text PDF, not a scanned image. Use a standard font such as Arial or Calibri at 10 to 12 points. Keep margins reasonable and avoid headers and footers that hold important contact information, because parsers sometimes skip those areas.

• Use one file format — PDF — unless the application specifically requests Word
• Put your name and contact details at the top of the main page
• Keep the CV to one or two pages depending on your experience
• Use bullet points rather than long paragraphs

Make each bullet count

Instead of listing duties, describe measurable results. "Answered 30 support tickets per week" is more useful to both an ATS and a recruiter than "answered emails." Where possible, include a number, a tool, or an outcome. This helps you match both keywords and the human reviewers who read after the software.

Build your CV with a tool that helps

You do not have to build a perfect document from a blank page. ThinkJob lets you create, review, and improve your CV, then apply directly to matching jobs. A well-structured CV works harder than a busy one — and it is the single most effective first step in any job search.