Why and how your CV needs to be ATS compliant
A CV that isn’t ATS compliant risks being filtered out before a human ever sees it – here’s how to make sure yours gets through.
CVS
4/16/20252 min read
If you’ve ever sent off your CV and heard nothing back, you’re not alone. In today’s digital hiring world, your CV might never even be seen by human eyes – unless it’s optimised for the systems that decide who gets through the first sift. These systems are called Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), and if your CV isn’t ATS-friendly, you could be missing out on job opportunities without even realising it.
What is an ATS?
An ATS is software used by employers and recruiters to filter, sort and rank job applications. According to Jobscan, 99% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS – and many smaller organisations do too. We believe figures are similar in the UK. These systems scan CVs for keywords, qualifications, job titles and other criteria to determine which candidates are most relevant to the role.
It’s a practical solution for hiring teams dealing with high volumes of applicants. For example, a single job posting can attract hundreds of CVs – far too many for one person to review manually. The ATS helps recruiters focus on the top matches.
Why your CV might be rejected by an ATS
An ATS isn’t perfect. It doesn’t read a CV the same way a human does. It can struggle with:
Complex formatting, such as tables, graphics or columns
Headers and footers where key information might be missed
Unusual fonts or file types (e.g. using PDF when a system prefers Word)
Missing or vague keywords that don’t match the job description
According to Jobscan’s research, up to 75% of CVs are never seen by a human because they’re rejected by the ATS. That means your qualifications could be perfect, but if your CV isn’t written and formatted correctly, you won’t make it past the initial screen.
What the research says
Jobscan’s in-depth analysis of CVs and applicant tracking systems shows that:
ATSs are highly keyword-driven – CVs that closely match the job description perform significantly better
Job titles and hard skills are among the most heavily weighted criteria
CVs with non-standard formatting (such as graphics or images) are more likely to be rejected
Other studies reinforce this. A 2023 report from Capterra found that 94% of recruiters said ATS software improved their hiring process, particularly in identifying top candidates faster. But that also means candidates need to play by the rules of the system to get noticed.
How to make your CV ATS compliant
The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice style for substance. A well-structured CV can still look polished while being machine-readable. Here’s how:
Use a standard layout – Stick to a single-column format with clear headings such as "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills" etc.
Avoid graphics, tables and unusual fonts – These confuse ATS algorithms.
Tailor your CV for each application – Use keywords from the job description, especially in your summary, skills and work experience sections.
Use standard job titles – Even if your company used unique names, align them with industry norms where appropriate.
Save your file in the right format – Word (.docx) is generally safest, though some systems now handle PDFs well – check the application instructions.
Get your CV checked
We offer tailored feedback on both content and formatting to help your CV make it past the bots and impress hiring managers. Get in touch for a free initial consultation.