Help your CV be understood

What is an ATS?

An applicant tracking system helps employers manage recruitment. Some systems extract information from an uploaded CV into fields; employers may also use screening questions, search or other tools. The process depends on the employer and its configuration.

A parsing problem means information has not been extracted correctly. It is different from not meeting the role’s requirements. There is no universal “ATS pass score” or format that guarantees an interview.

Source: Greenhouse documentation on CV parsing

Make the document straightforward to read

Our practical starting point is a simple, single-column CV with clear section headings, ordinary text and consistent dates. Follow the employer’s required file format and size limits.

• Keep important details in the document body. Some parsers struggle with headers, footers, text boxes, columns and complex tables.
• Avoid a scan or image-only CV. Check that you can select its text.
• Use headings such as Experience, Education and Skills. Do not rely on icons to convey important information.
• After uploading, check any automatically filled fields and correct mistakes before submitting.

Source: Greenhouse parsing limitations

Match the role with truthful evidence

Read the essential criteria and use the employer’s terminology where it accurately describes your skills. If you have customer service experience, show what that involved rather than adding a list of repeated keywords.

Do not invent qualifications, hide keywords in white text, or claim skills you cannot discuss. A clear CV should also make sense to a person reading it.

Source: National Careers Service CV guidance

Check your CV before sending

Try a ten-minute tailoring exercise

1. Choose one real advert and highlight three essential requirements.
2. Under each requirement, write a true example from work, study or volunteering.
3. Rewrite three CV bullets to explain your action and result.
4. Read the document aloud. Remove jargon or claims you cannot explain.