What Is an ATS?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by employers to filter CVs before a human ever reads them. Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS, and the figure is similar for large UK employers. If your CV isn't formatted correctly or lacks the right keywords, it will be automatically rejected.
How ATS Works
The system scans your CV for keywords that match the job description, then ranks candidates by relevance. CVs with low match scores are filtered out. The system also parses your CV into structured data — if it can't read your formatting, your information may be lost entirely.
How to Pass ATS Filters
Use a clean, simple format
Avoid tables, columns, text boxes, headers/footers, and images. Use a single-column layout with standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman).
Use standard section headings
"Work Experience", "Education", "Skills" — not creative alternatives like "My Journey" or "What I've Done".
Mirror the job description
Read the job posting carefully and use the exact same keywords and phrases. If the job says "project management", don't write "project coordination" — use the exact term.
Include both spelled-out and abbreviated versions
Write "Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)" rather than just "SEO" to cover both search variations.
Use a .docx or .pdf format
Most ATS systems handle both, but .docx is safer. Avoid creative PDF designs with graphics.
Don't stuff keywords
ATS systems are increasingly sophisticated and can detect keyword stuffing. Use keywords naturally within your experience descriptions.
Test Your CV
After creating your CV, paste the job description and your CV into a free ATS checker tool to see your match score. Aim for above 70%.
CareerCraftAI's Pro plan includes job description matching, which automatically tailors your CV to include the right keywords for each specific role.