How to make an ATS-friendly CV (12-point checklist)
Updated
An ATS (applicant tracking system) is the software many employers use to collect applications, turn each CV into searchable text and help recruiters filter candidates. An ATS-friendly CV is simply one that this software can read correctly: a single-column layout, standard section headings, real text instead of images, and the job's key terms written the same way the advert writes them. It is still read by a person afterwards, so it must also be clear for humans.
How an ATS reads your CV
- It extracts text from your file and tries to split it into fields: name, contact details, job titles, employers, dates, education, skills.
- Recruiters then search or filter that data, for example by job title, skill or location.
- If parsing fails — text inside images, unusual headings, columns read in the wrong order — your experience may be missing or scrambled in the system, even if the PDF looks fine to you.
The 12-point ATS checklist
- Use a single-column layout for the main content.
- Use standard headings: Personal statement / Profile, Work experience, Education, Skills.
- Keep your name and contact details in the body, not in the page header or footer.
- No text inside images, icons or charts; no skill rating bars.
- Avoid tables and text boxes for key information.
- Use a common font (e.g. Arial, Calibri, Garamond, Helvetica) at 10–12 pt.
- Write dates consistently, e.g. "Mar 2022 – Present".
- Write job titles clearly; add the common version in brackets if your title is unusual.
- Mirror the advert's key terms where true: "customer relationship management (CRM)".
- Spell out abbreviations once alongside the short form.
- Save as PDF unless the employer asks for .docx; check the PDF text can be selected and copied.
- Name the file clearly: Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf.
Quick self-test
Open your PDF, select all text and paste it into a plain-text editor. If the order is jumbled, words are missing or your contact details do not appear, an ATS is likely to have the same problem.
Keywords without keyword stuffing
Recruiters often search for job titles, tools and qualifications. Include the ones that are true for you, in context: "Managed payroll for 140 staff using Sage Payroll" works for both software and humans. Repeating a keyword many times or hiding it in white text does not help and can look dishonest when a recruiter reads the CV.
Do I have to give up design?
No. Colour, a clear typeface and good spacing are fine. Problems usually come from two-column layouts, graphics and text in headers. A sensible approach is to keep a designed version for networking and direct emails, and an ATS version for online portals. YeniCV includes a plain ATS version with every download, so you do not have to maintain two files by hand — try it in the CV builder.