7 ATS Resume Tips That Get You Past the Screening Bot

What is an ATS and why does it matter?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that reads, scores and filters CVs before a recruiter sees them. Studies suggest over 75% of CVs are rejected at this stage. The system is not reading for quality — it is reading for structure.

The 7 tips

**1. Use a single-column layout.** Two-column CVs cause parsers to read across both columns at once, mixing up your job titles with your skills. Single column only.

**2. No tables.** Tables break most ATS parsers. Use plain text with tab stops for right-aligned dates instead.

**3. No graphics or icons.** Images are invisible to parsers. A graphical skills bar that says "Python ████░" contributes nothing to your score.

**4. Standard section headings.** Use "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills". Creative alternatives like "Where I've Been" confuse parsers.

**5. Put the job title first.** Each role should start with your title, then the company. Parsers weight titles heavily.

**6. Mirror the job description.** If the advert says "project management", your CV should say "project management", not "running projects".

**7. Submit in Word format.** PDF parsing varies by system. A .docx file is parsed more reliably by Workday, Taleo and Greenhouse.

The template

The CV template on this site was built around all seven rules. Single column, no tables, no graphics, Word format.