ATS-Friendly CV: How to Pass Applicant Tracking Systems
Most large companies screen CVs first with software called an ATS (Applicant Tracking System). If your CV does not pass it correctly, a recruiter may never see it. This guide explains how an ATS works and how to make your CV pass.
What is an ATS?
An ATS is software that collects, reads and scores incoming CVs by keywords. It parses the text, recognizes the sections and ranks each CV by how well it matches the job. Only the highest-scoring CVs are reviewed by a human.
Why CVs fail the ATS
- Complex design — tables, columns and text boxes confuse the parser.
- Important details placed inside images or icons (an ATS cannot read images).
- Non-standard section headings (“My journey” instead of “Work experience”).
- Missing keywords — the terms from the job posting are absent.
- The wrong file format or a scanned image-PDF.
ATS-friendly formatting rules
- Use a simple, single-column layout.
- Use standard section headings: Work experience, Education, Skills.
- Use standard fonts (Inter, Arial, Calibri) and real text — not images.
- Write dates in a consistent format (e.g. 2022–2024).
- Save your CV as a text-based PDF, not an image-PDF.
Take keywords from the job posting
Read the job posting carefully and use the recurring skills, tools and job titles (that you genuinely have) with the same wording in your CV. If the posting says “Excel,” write “Excel,” not “spreadsheet software.” This directly increases your match score.
Guaranteed compatibility with Huntbl templates
Huntbl templates are built precisely so ATS systems can read them easily — simple structure, standard headings, clean text. You enter your details, we keep the format ATS-friendly, and AI helps you weave in keywords naturally.
FAQ
Can an ATS read images and logos?
No. It usually cannot read text inside an image, so never put important details in an image only.
PDF or Word — which is better?
Most modern ATS systems read a text-based PDF well. The key is that the file contains real text, not a scan or image.
Can I stuff hidden keywords?
No. Tricks like hidden white text are detected and get your CV auto-rejected. Place keywords in natural text instead.