Last Updated: October 28, 2026

Quick Summary

The best ways to get past ATS CV scanners are to use a single-column layout, standard headings and a plain .docx or PDF file, then tailor your CV to each job advert using the advert's own wording and only experience you genuinely have. Keep key details out of headers, footers and text boxes so the system can read them. Check your CV with a checker before you apply.

  • Use a single-column layout with standard headings such as Work Experience, Education and Skills.
  • Keep contact details in the main body, not in headers, footers or text boxes.
  • Highlight the requirements in the advert and match each one to real evidence from your work or study.
  • Use the advert's exact wording where it truthfully describes your experience.
  • Avoid tables, columns, scanned images and keyword stuffing, as these can cause parsing problems.

Table of Contents

What an ATS CV Scanner Actually Does

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are software that employers use to store, sort and search job applications. ATS CV scanners read your CV, pull out the text and may match it against the job advert. To see how to lay out your document so it parses cleanly, read this ATS-friendly CV guide for UK applicant tracking systems.

Systems can turn your CV into searchable data, then a recruiter or hiring manager may look through the results. They can turn your CV into searchable data, which a recruiter or hiring manager may look through. A CV that parses badly may be harder to find in a search.

The practical takeaway is simple. Your CV needs to be easy for a machine to read and clear for a human to scan.

Choosing an ATS-Friendly CV Format

In the UK, the word is CV, not resume. Much of the advice online about "resumes" comes from the United States, where the format and expectations are different. Check the job advert and any application instructions first, because they override general advice. For a clear explanation of the terminology and format differences, see ATS resume or UK CV: what UK applicants need to know.

For most UK roles, an ATS-friendly CV looks like this:

  • A single-column layout, with no text boxes or tables holding key information
  • Standard headings such as "Work Experience", "Education" and "Skills"
  • A common font such as Arial or Calibri
  • A plain .docx or PDF file, unless the employer asks for one or the other
  • Dates written in a consistent format, such as "Jan 2022 to Mar 2024"

Graphics, photos, icons and headers or footers can cause parsing problems. Keep your contact details in the main body of the document so the system can read them.

Tailoring a CV to a Job Description

A generic CV may be harder for an ATS to match and for a recruiter to read. Tailoring means changing your CV so it reflects what this particular job asks for, using only experience you actually have. Follow this step-by-step UK guide to tailoring your CV to a job description to map each requirement to real evidence.

Work through the advert in four steps:

  1. Highlight the requirements. Mark the skills, tools, qualifications and responsibilities the employer lists.
  2. Match them to your evidence. For each one, find a real example from your work or study.
  3. Use the advert's wording. If the advert says "stakeholder engagement", use that phrase where it truthfully describes what you did.
  4. Reorder your content. Put the most relevant experience near the top of each section.

Do not add skills you do not have. An interviewer will ask about everything on your CV, and a claim you cannot back up will cost you more than a missed keyword.

Finding and Using the Right CV Keywords for ATS

Keywords are words an ATS CV scanner may search for. They can include job titles, software names, qualifications, sector terms and key duties from the job advert. For a detailed walkthrough of finding these in a UK advert and using them truthfully, including NHS and Civil Service roles, see the guide to ATS keywords for a UK CV.

To find them:

  • Read the advert twice and note repeated terms
  • Check the "essential" or "must have" section, if there is one
  • Look for specific tools, such as "Excel", "Salesforce" or "NHS Electronic Staff Record"
  • Note qualifications and certifications exactly as written

To use them well:

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  • Put the most important keywords in your skills section and in your work experience bullets
  • Use the exact wording from the advert where it fits your experience
  • Use each keyword where it is genuinely relevant, not in a long list at the bottom

Keyword stuffing, meaning a block of hidden or repeated terms, is a poor idea. It makes the CV harder to read and can look like you are trying to game the system.

Common Mistakes That Get CVs Filtered Out

Some mistakes to consider include:

  • Putting key details in headers, footers or text boxes. These areas may not be read correctly.
  • Using tables or columns for your work history. These can scramble the reading order.
  • Using unusual file types or scanned images. A scanned CV may be harder for a machine to read.
  • Using vague job titles. If your official title was "Team Coordinator", the advert might say "Operations Assistant". Add a short note in brackets if the titles differ.
  • Leaving out dates or qualifications. Recruiters and systems both look for these.
  • Writing duties instead of results. Show what you did and what changed because of it, using only facts you can confirm.

A common mistake is sending the same CV to every employer. Tailoring your CV for each role can help it reflect the job requirements.

The table below sets out the common mistakes covered in this section, with the problem each one causes and the fix.

Mistake Why it hurts Fix
Key details in headers, footers or text boxes May not be read correctly Keep details in the main body
Tables or columns for work history Can scramble reading order Use a single-column layout
Unusual file types or scanned images Harder for a machine to read Use a plain .docx or PDF
Vague job titles May not match the advert Add a short note in brackets
Missing dates or qualifications Recruiters and systems look for them Include them consistently
Duties instead of results Shows less of what changed Show what you did and the outcome

Checking Your CV With an ATS CV Checker

An ATS CV checker can help you review how your document may be read. It can flag formatting problems, missing sections and keyword matches. Different systems may read files in different ways.

Diagram illustrating the process of using ATS CV scanners to review a printed document alongside a laptop.
Diagram illustrating the process of using ATS CV scanners to review a printed document alongside a laptop.

Use a checker to:

  • Confirm your contact details and headings are picked up correctly
  • Spot keywords from the advert that are missing from your CV
  • Find layout elements that may cause parsing errors

Then read your CV yourself, out loud if that helps. A CV that scans well but reads badly still needs work. You can check your CV for free with the free CV checker from Evident Career Studio to see how it reads against a job advert.

Your Next Step: Run a Free Scan on Your Current CV

Start with the CV you already have. Pick one job advert you want to apply for, then compare the two side by side. Note the keywords you already show, the ones you are missing, and any formatting issues the scan flags. If you want to see how your CV reads against a specific advert, you can tailor your CV to a job description from your own evidence.

Only add what is true. If you have the experience but have not written it down, add it. If you do not have it, leave it out and focus on what you can show. Then run your updated CV through the free CV checker. If you want to adapt your CV to a specific role, you can also use CV tailoring to a job description, which drafts wording from your own answers and lets you approve every change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make my CV ATS-friendly?

Use a simple single-column layout, standard headings such as Work Experience, Education and Skills, and a plain font. Save the file as a Word document or a text-based PDF so the scanner can read it. Avoid text boxes, headers and footers holding key information, graphics, and tables for core content. Check that job titles, employer names and dates appear as normal text. Keeping the structure plain can make your details easier to read.

What CV format works best with applicant tracking systems?

A reverse-chronological format with a clear summary, work history and skills section is one format to consider. Put your name and contact details in the main body rather than a header, as some systems skip headers. Use standard section titles. A Word document or a text-based PDF is another format to consider. The format matters less than making every section easy to read as plain text.

Should I use the exact wording from a job description in my CV?

Where it is accurate, you can use the same phrase as the advert, such as stakeholder management or Microsoft Excel, if you have that experience. Do not copy requirements you cannot evidence, because you will have to explain them at interview. Mirror the wording in your skills section and within the relevant job bullet points, rather than stuffing the whole CV with repeated phrases.

Can applicant tracking systems read PDF CVs?

Text-based PDFs may be readable, while scanned images, heavily designed PDFs and files with text inside graphics may be harder to read. Before sending, copy text from your PDF into a plain text editor. If the words come out in a jumbled order or go missing, the file may be difficult to read. When the employer asks for a Word document, send that instead.

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