How to Write an ATS-Friendly CV: Formatting, Keywords and Best Practices

An applicant tracking system may collect, organise, search, filter or manage applications. Employer configurations vary, so treat ATS advice as a clarity and extraction problem rather than a guarantee.

• Experience / Work Experience
• Education
• Skills
• Projects
• Certifications
• Volunteer Experience

Keep employer, role title, location and dates visually connected. Use consistent dates and clear chronology.

• Do not put essential information inside images.
• Avoid relying on graphics to communicate skills.
• Use tables sparingly for core experience.
• Be careful with text boxes and unusual columns.
• Do not place critical information only in headers or footers.
• Use selectable text.

Read the target job description and identify terms that genuinely describe your experience. Use the employer's terminology where accurate, but never add a skill you do not have.

Describe the work, context, contribution and result where one exists. Do not invent percentages or metrics.

• Use one date style.
• Avoid contradictions across CV and application forms.
• Use month/year where useful.
• Do not manipulate dates to hide gaps.

Open the final PDF, copy its text and paste it into a plain-text editor. If headings, dates or bullets appear in the wrong order, simplify the layout.

Maintain a clear base document, then adapt the summary, relevant skills and experience emphasis for each important opportunity. Every change must remain truthful.

• ☐ Standard headings
• ☐ Clear chronology
• ☐ Consistent dates
• ☐ Selectable text
• ☐ No essential image-only information
• ☐ Relevant keywords used naturally
• ☐ Evidence-rich bullets
• ☐ Final export tested

• A keyword dump.
• A guarantee of an interview.
• Invisible text or formatting tricks.
• A substitute for relevant experience.
• A reason to sacrifice human readability.