How to Create an ATS-Friendly CV That Gets More Interviews
You may have the right experience for a job, but your CV still needs to reach the recruiter who can recognise it.
Many employers use an Applicant Tracking System, commonly called an ATS, to collect, organise, and search job applications. Before a recruiter examines your CV, the system may scan it for relevant skills, job titles, qualifications, and experience.
An ATS-friendly CV is not about tricking software. It is about presenting your experience clearly, using language that matches the vacancy, and making your application easy for both technology and people to understand.
Here is how to create a CV that performs well in an ATS and makes a strong impression on recruiters.
1. Start with a simple, readable layout
Creative CV designs may look attractive, but complicated layouts can make information harder for some systems to interpret.
Use a clean structure with clearly labelled sections. A strong CV will normally include:
Your name and contact information
A professional summary
Key skills
Employment history
Education
Relevant certifications
Optional projects or achievements
Avoid placing important information inside headers, footers, text boxes, charts, or graphics. A single-column layout is usually the safest choice.
Choose a professional font such as Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, or Times New Roman. Keep the main text between 10 and 12 points, and use slightly larger text for headings.
2. Use a clear professional title
Below your name, include a title that reflects the position you want.
For example:
Digital Marketing Specialist
This immediately tells the recruiter what type of candidate you are. When appropriate, use the same professional title found in the job description.
Do not use vague descriptions such as “hardworking professional” or “looking for a new opportunity.” Your title should communicate your area of expertise.
3. Write a focused professional summary
Your professional summary should be a short introduction of approximately three to five lines. It should explain:
Your professional background
Your strongest relevant skills
The value you can offer an employer
One or two notable achievements
For example:
“Digital marketing specialist with five years of experience delivering content, SEO, and paid advertising campaigns for technology companies. Skilled in increasing organic traffic, improving conversion rates, and managing multi-channel campaigns. Increased qualified website leads by 32% in my most recent role.”
A focused summary gives recruiters a reason to continue reading.
4. Study the job description carefully
The job description tells you what the employer considers important. Read it carefully and identify repeated words and phrases related to:
Technical skills
Professional skills
Tools and software
Qualifications
Responsibilities
Industry knowledge
Years of experience
If those requirements genuinely match your experience, include the same terminology in your CV.
For example, if the vacancy requests “project management,” use that phrase rather than replacing it everywhere with “project coordination.” An ATS may search for the employer’s exact wording.
Never claim a skill or qualification you do not possess. Keywords should accurately describe your experience.
5. Create a relevant skills section
A dedicated skills section makes your capabilities easy to find.
Depending on your profession, it might include skills such as:
Project management
Customer relationship management
Data analysis
Search engine optimisation
Python
Microsoft Excel
Budget management
Stakeholder communication
Prioritise the skills mentioned in the vacancy, provided they are relevant to you. Avoid filling this section with generic qualities such as “hardworking,” “friendly,” or “motivated” without supporting evidence.
Soft skills are more convincing when demonstrated through achievements in your employment history.
6. Focus on achievements, not only responsibilities
Recruiters want to understand what you accomplished—not just what you were expected to do.
Compare these examples:
Responsibility:
“Responsible for managing social media accounts.”
Achievement:
“Managed five social media accounts and increased average monthly engagement by 38% within six months.”
The second example explains the scope of the work and provides a measurable result.
Where possible, include numbers such as:
Revenue generated
Money or time saved
Percentage growth
Number of customers supported
Size of the team managed
Projects delivered
Performance targets achieved
If exact figures are confidential, use accurate ranges or other forms of measurable impact.
7. Use standard section headings
Clear headings help both recruiters and software understand your CV.
Use familiar labels such as:
Professional Summary
Key Skills
Work Experience
Education
Certifications
Projects
Avoid unusual headings such as “My Journey,” “What I Bring,” or “Where I Have Been.” They may be creative, but they make important information less predictable and harder to locate.
8. Write employment dates consistently
Choose one date format and use it throughout the document.
For example:
January 2023 – Present
or:
Jan 2023 – Present
Place each job title next to the correct employer and employment period. List your most recent role first, followed by previous positions in reverse chronological order.
If you have a career gap, you do not need to hide it. A short, honest explanation—such as professional development, caregiving, travel, or personal circumstances—is better than using a confusing date structure.
9. Avoid keyword stuffing
Including relevant keywords is important, but repeating the same phrase excessively will not improve a weak CV. It can also make your writing sound unnatural.
Use keywords where they fit logically:
In your professional summary
In the skills section
Within your employment achievements
In relevant project descriptions
Write for a human reader first. The goal is to make the connection between your experience and the vacancy clear.
10. Choose the correct file format
Follow the employer’s application instructions whenever a required format is specified.
A .docx file is commonly accepted and usually easy for an ATS to process. A text-based PDF can also work, but you should confirm that the employer accepts PDF applications.
Do not submit a scanned CV or an image of a document. The system may be unable to read the text accurately.
Use a clear filename such as:
Aisha-Khan-Marketing-CV.docx
A professional filename makes your application easier for recruiters to manage.
11. Check your contact information
Your contact details should be easy to locate and completely accurate.
Include:
Full name
Professional email address
Phone number
City or general location
LinkedIn profile, if relevant
Portfolio or professional website, if relevant
You normally do not need to include your complete home address, date of birth, marital status, or photograph unless local expectations or the employer specifically require them.
Test every link before submitting your application.
12. Tailor your CV for each role
Sending exactly the same CV to every employer may save time, but it usually produces weaker applications.
You do not need to rewrite the entire document for every vacancy. Instead:
Adjust your professional summary.
Reorder your skills according to the employer’s priorities.
Highlight the most relevant achievements.
Add accurate keywords from the job description.
Remove details that distract from your suitability.
A tailored CV shows the recruiter why you are a strong match for that particular position.
Your final ATS-friendly CV checklist
Before submitting your CV, confirm that:
The layout is simple and easy to scan.
Standard section headings are used.
The professional title matches your target role.
Relevant keywords appear naturally.
Achievements include measurable results where possible.
Dates and formatting are consistent.
Contact information is correct.
There are no spelling or grammar mistakes.
The file format follows the employer’s instructions.
The filename is clear and professional.
The CV has been tailored to the vacancy.
Final thoughts
An effective CV brings together clear formatting, relevant language, and credible evidence of your abilities. Passing an ATS is only the first step—your CV must also persuade a recruiter that you deserve an interview.
Keep the document simple, customise it for the position, and focus on results rather than generic claims. These improvements can help your application communicate its value more effectively.
Ready to take the next step? Explore opportunities on Job Nood and use these tips to submit a stronger application.