---
title: "How to Beat Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)"
excerpt: "Understanding how ATS software parses CVs and what you can do to make sure yours gets through."
date: "2026-02-20"
readTime: "7 min read"
tag: "ATS"
---

More than 75% of large employers use an Applicant Tracking System to filter applications before a recruiter ever sees them. If your CV isn't ATS-friendly, it's invisible.

## What Is an ATS?

An ATS is software that scans, parses, and ranks incoming applications. It extracts text from your CV, categorises it into fields (name, email, experience, skills), and scores you against the job description.

## Why CVs Get Rejected

- Fancy formatting: Tables, columns, text boxes, and headers/footers can confuse parsers.
- Images and graphics: ATS cannot read images. Skill-level bars and icons are wasted.
- Missing keywords: If the listing says "project management" and you write "PM", the system may not match it.
- Non-standard section headings: "Where I've Been" instead of "Work Experience" trips up keyword matching.

## How to Optimise Your CV for ATS

### 1. Use Standard Section Headings

Stick with: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications, Languages.

### 2. Mirror Job Description Keywords

Read the listing carefully. If it mentions "stakeholder engagement", "Agile methodology", or "P&L management", use those exact phrases in your CV.

### 3. Keep Formatting Simple

- Use a single-column layout or a clearly separated two-column structure.
- Avoid tables, images, and decorative elements.
- Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman).

### 4. Submit as PDF (With Real Text)

A well-structured PDF preserves formatting while remaining parseable. Avoid image-based PDFs — the text must be selectable.

### 5. Include a Skills Section

Many ATS weight a dedicated skills section heavily. List both hard skills (tools, technologies) and soft skills relevant to the role.

## Test Your CV

Upload your CV to an ATS simulator or simply try selecting and copying the text. If you can't highlight individual words, the ATS can't read it either.

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