What is an ATS, and how do you write a CV that gets through it?

Many employers, especially larger ones, use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to collect and sort applications. When you upload your CV, the software reads it, pulls out details such as your job titles, skills and qualifications, and often lets recruiters search or rank candidates.

That means your CV needs to work for software as well as for people.

What an ATS actually does

Different systems work in different ways, but most of them:

• Extract the text from your CV and split it into sections such as experience and education
• Match keywords from the job description against your CV
• Let recruiters filter by things like job title, skills, location or qualifications

An ATS doesn't usually reject people on its own. But if it can't read your CV properly, or your CV doesn't mention the skills the recruiter searches for, you may never be seen.

Make your CV easy to read

• Use real text. A CV saved as an image, or with text inside pictures, may not be read at all.
• Use standard headings such as "Experience", "Education" and "Skills".
• Keep the layout simple. Tables, text boxes and columns can confuse some systems. If you like a two-column design, check it reads in the right order.
• Put contact details in the main body, not only in the page header or footer.
• Save as PDF or Word unless the employer asks for something else.

Use the job's own words, honestly

Read the advert and note the skills, tools and qualifications it mentions. If you have them, make sure they appear on your CV in the same words: "customer relationship management" and "CRM" might not both be recognised, so it can help to include both.

Don't copy the advert or add skills you don't have. Recruiters read the CVs that make it through, and you'll be asked about them in the interview.

Check before you apply

Our ATS score checker reads your CV the way an employer's software would and gives you an estimated compatibility score with specific fixes. It's an estimate based on common ATS practices, not the scoring of any particular provider, but it's a quick way to catch problems before they cost you an interview.