How to Beat Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
What is an Applicant Tracking System?
An applicant tracking system, or ATS, is software that companies use to manage job applications. It collects, sorts, scans, and ranks CVs before a human recruiter ever sees them. Over 95% of Fortune 500 companies and a growing number of small and medium businesses use some form of ATS.
Popular ATS platforms include Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS, and Taleo. Each system has its own parsing algorithms, but they share common principles for how they read and evaluate CVs.
Understanding how these systems work is not about gaming the process. It is about ensuring your qualifications are accurately captured and fairly evaluated by the software.
How ATS Parsing Works
When you submit your CV, the ATS parses it into structured data fields: name, contact information, work experience, education, skills, and certifications. It then compares this extracted data against the requirements in the job posting.
The system assigns a relevance score based on keyword matches, years of experience, education level, and other criteria defined by the recruiter. CVs that score below a threshold may never reach human eyes.
Parsing accuracy depends heavily on your CV format. A well-structured document with clear headings and standard sections will be parsed correctly. A heavily designed CV with tables, graphics, or unusual layouts may confuse the parser.
Keyword Optimization
Keywords are the foundation of ATS optimization. Study the job description and identify the specific skills, qualifications, tools, and certifications mentioned. Include these exact terms in your CV.
Use the same terminology as the job posting. If the description says project management, do not substitute programme coordination. If it mentions Salesforce, do not just write CRM software. Be specific.
Place keywords naturally within your experience descriptions and skills section. Avoid creating a hidden keyword block or stuffing terms unnaturally, as modern ATS platforms can detect and penalize these tactics.
Hard Skills vs Soft Skills
ATS systems primarily scan for hard skills: specific, teachable abilities like programming languages, software proficiency, certifications, and technical methodologies. These should appear prominently in your skills section and be reinforced in your experience descriptions.
Soft skills such as leadership, communication, and teamwork are harder for ATS to evaluate. While you should include them, demonstrate them through your achievements rather than simply listing them.
Formatting Rules for ATS Compatibility
Use standard section headings: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications. Avoid creative alternatives like Where I Have Made an Impact or My Learning Journey, as ATS systems may not recognize them.
Submit your CV as a PDF unless the application specifically requests a different format. Modern ATS platforms handle PDFs well, and the format preserves your layout across different devices.
Avoid using tables, text boxes, headers, footers, and columns for critical information. While many modern ATS platforms can handle these elements, some older systems cannot, and the risk is not worth taking.
Use a standard font such as Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica. Do not embed your text within images. Ensure your contact information is in the main body of the document, not in the header or footer.
Common ATS Mistakes
Using abbreviations without spelling them out is a frequent mistake. Write Search Engine Optimization (SEO) the first time, then use SEO afterward. The ATS may search for either the full term or the abbreviation.
Submitting a CV with a creative file name like John_CV_Final_v3_UPDATED.pdf looks unprofessional. Use a simple format like John-Smith-CV.pdf.
Applying with an image-based CV, such as one created in Canva and exported as a flattened image, is a guaranteed way to fail ATS screening. The system cannot extract any text from an image.
Testing Your CV Against ATS
Before submitting, test your CV by copying and pasting its content into a plain text editor. If the text appears jumbled, out of order, or missing sections, the ATS will likely have the same problem.
Some online tools simulate ATS scanning and can highlight issues with your CV format. However, the most reliable test is the plain text method, as it reveals exactly what a parser will extract.
Using a CV builder designed with ATS compatibility in mind eliminates most formatting concerns. CVello templates are built to be parsed correctly by all major applicant tracking systems while still looking polished to human readers.
Beyond the ATS: The Human Review
Passing the ATS is only the first hurdle. Your CV must then impress a human recruiter. This means balancing keyword optimization with compelling, readable content.
Do not sacrifice readability for ATS optimization. A CV stuffed with keywords but lacking coherent descriptions of your achievements will not impress the recruiter who eventually reads it.
The goal is a document that works for both audiences: structured and keyword-rich enough for automated screening, yet engaging and well-written enough to convince a human to invite you for an interview.