ATS-Friendly CV Guide 2026
Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen CVs before a human sees them. Most CVs are rejected at this stage — not because the candidate is underqualified, but because the CV is formatted in a way the software cannot read.
What is an ATS?
An Applicant Tracking System is software that employers use to collect, sort, and filter job applications. When you apply online, your CV is parsed by ATS software before any recruiter reads it. Common ATS tools used by employers: Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, Taleo (Oracle), SAP SuccessFactors, iCIMS.
Why most CVs fail ATS
The most common reasons a CV fails ATS: (1) Tables and columns — most ATS parsers read documents left-to-right and combine text from columns, creating garbled output. (2) Text boxes — content inside text boxes is often invisible to ATS. (3) Headers and footers — ATS typically skips them, meaning your contact details are missed. (4) Unusual section headings — 'Career journey' instead of 'Work experience' may not be recognised. (5) Missing keywords — ATS ranks CVs based on keyword match with the job description.
How to format your CV for ATS
Use: single-column layout, standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, size 10–12pt), standard section headings ('Work Experience', 'Education', 'Skills'), PDF format (unless the application specifically requests Word). Avoid: tables, multiple columns, text boxes, images, graphics, icons, headers and footers for key information.
Keywords: how to get them right
ATS scores your CV by matching keywords from the job description. Read the job posting carefully and include the exact phrases they use — not synonyms. If they write 'project management', write 'project management' on your CV, not 'managing projects'. Repeat key skills in context, not just in a skills list. A keyword buried in a real achievement is weighted higher than one in an isolated bullet.
ATS for UK and international job applications
Workday, Greenhouse, and Lever are common in UK tech and finance companies. Taleo (Oracle) is common in large corporates and public sector. If you're applying through a company's own careers portal (not a job board), it's almost certainly running through an ATS. Application via email is the only process that bypasses ATS. Even then, always send ATS-safe formatting — the recruiter may upload your CV to their system.
Use an ATS-safe template
Our Classic and Compact templates are built for ATS compatibility — clean single-column layouts with no tables, no text boxes, and standard formatting.
Try an ATS-safe template →ATS frequently asked questions
What does ATS stand for?
ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System — software that employers use to collect and filter job applications before a human recruiter reviews them.
Does a PDF pass ATS?
Usually yes — modern ATS software can parse PDFs well. However, if the job posting specifically asks for a Word document, send Word. When in doubt, PDF is the safer default.
Do ATS systems read all parts of a CV?
Most ATS systems skip headers, footers, text boxes, and content inside tables. Keep all critical information (contact details, job titles, dates) in the main body of the document.
How do I know if my CV passes ATS?
Use a plain single-column template without tables or graphics. Copy-paste the text from your CV into a plain text editor — if it reads clearly and in the right order, your CV will parse well in most ATS.
Is a colourful or designed CV bad for ATS?
Design elements themselves are not the problem — it depends on how they're implemented. A light background colour is fine. The issue is tables, text boxes, and images used to position content. Our templates use CSS-based layout that renders correctly in both ATS and human review.