How to Make an ATS-Friendly Resume

Studies suggest that over 90% of Fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter CVs before any human reviews them. If your CV is not formatted to work with ATS, you may be screened out before a recruiter ever reads a word.

What ATS Software Actually Does

ATS software parses your CV into a structured database — extracting your name, contact details, job titles, employers, dates, skills, and education. It then scores your CV against the job description based on keyword match and other criteria. If your score is below the threshold, your CV is rejected automatically.

ATS-Friendly Formatting Rules

• Use a single-column layout — multi-column formats often break parsers
• Avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics — ATS cannot read them
• Do not put contact info in headers or footers
• Use standard fonts (Calibri, Arial, Georgia)
• Save as .pdf or .docx — check the job posting for preference
• Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills)

Keyword Optimisation

Read the job description carefully and identify the key skills, tools, and phrases used. Incorporate them naturally throughout your CV — in your summary, skills section, and experience bullets. ATS matching is largely keyword-based, so the language you use matters.

Test Your CV Before Applying

Use CVPair's built-in ATS checker to score your CV against 7 criteria before you submit. A score of 7/7 means your CV has all the core elements recruiters look for. You can also paste your CV into an online ATS simulator to see how it parses.

When ATS Rules Do Not Apply

Small companies, startups, agencies, and many creative businesses do not use ATS — applications go directly to a person. In these cases, a more visually distinctive CV may actually help. Read the job application process to gauge whether you are likely going through ATS.