Guide
How to write an ATS-friendly CV
An ATS does not decide whether your career is valuable. It converts the document into searchable text and helps a recruiter filter applications. Your goal is therefore simple: make the document easy to parse without stripping away useful evidence.
What you will learn
- Choose predictable section headings
- Place role keywords in truthful context
- Avoid layout elements that scramble reading order
- Test the final PDF instead of trusting the editable file
Build a predictable reading order
Use one main column whenever possible. Put your name and contact details in the document body, followed by a summary, skills, experience and education. Decorative sidebars can look attractive but may cause text to be extracted in the wrong order.
- Use headings such as Experience, Education and Skills
- Keep dates aligned consistently
- Do not place essential contact information only in headers or footers
Use keywords as evidence, not as a list
Read the vacancy and identify tools, responsibilities, qualifications and domain terms that genuinely match your background. Include them in the summary, skills and accomplishment bullets where a recruiter can understand how you used them.
- Match the common spelling used in the vacancy
- Include both an acronym and its full form when useful
- Never add a skill you cannot discuss in an interview
Export and test the final PDF
A PDF preserves layout, but it is only ATS-friendly when the text remains selectable and searchable. Open the exported file, select several paragraphs and copy them into a plain-text editor. If the order becomes confusing, simplify the layout before submitting.
Practical checklist
- The PDF contains selectable text
- Section headings use familiar language
- Dates and job titles follow one pattern
- Important keywords appear naturally
- No essential content is hidden in images
- The filename identifies you and the role