The 10-Minute ATS Fix: Simple CV Tweaks That Boost Interviews
Let’s be blunt: if you’ve been firing off CVs and hearing nothing back, it’s probably not because you’re unqualified. It’s because your CV never made it past the robots.
Yes, really. Most big firms run applications through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), and these things are ruthless. One dodgy layout choice, a missing keyword, or the wrong file type, and your CV goes straight in the bin. They’re not known across the wider industry as “acts of self-sabotage” for nothing!
The good news? It only takes 10 minutes to stop your CV getting chewed up by the machines. Here’s the no-fluff version.
1. Stop Dressing It Up Like a Brochure
You might think a fancy design will impress recruiters. It won’t. ATS software can’t read text inside tables, columns, graphics, or quirky fonts.
- Stick to one clean column, black text, and boring old Arial or Calibri.
- Ditch the Canva templates, they look nice, but ATS reads them like gibberish.
Pretty CVs are for Instagram. Recruiters want something their system can actually process.
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2. Speak the Same Language as the Job Ad
ATS doesn’t “understand” context. It’s looking for exact keywords from the job description.
- If the role says “P&L responsibility,” write “P&L responsibility.” Not “managed budgets.”
- If they want “M&A,” don’t write “corporate transactions.” You’ll get filtered out.
This isn’t about “gaming the system.” It’s about making sure the system recognises you as qualified.
3. Send the Right File Type
Here’s a shocker: the wrong file format can kill your chances before you even start.
- Word (.docx): Safest bet. ATS loves it.
- PDF: Okay if saved cleanly from Word. Don’t get fancy.
- Anything else: Forget it. Scanned PDFs? You’ve just uploaded an image. The ATS can’t read a thing.
4. Use Job Titles People Actually Recognise
If your job title sounds like something invented at a startup after a few beers (Client Success Ninja, Growth Wizard), do yourself a favour: translate it.
Write your real title, then put a recognisable one in brackets:
Client Success Evangelist (Customer Success Manager)
This way, you don’t lose credibility with humans and the system still knows where to slot you.
5. Keep the Important Stuff Where ATS Can See It
ATS often ignores headers and footers completely. Which means if your phone number is tucked up there, guess what? Recruiters never see it. It even didn’t recognise the address of a German client once, because the format wasn’t what is was used to. So spelling it out R E A L L Y clearly will help you more than you know!
Keep contact info, job titles, and achievements in the main body of the CV.
The Brutal Truth
Up to 75% of CVs are binned by ATS before a recruiter even lays eyes on them. That’s three out of four candidates out of the game before they’ve even started.
It’s not fair. But it IS reality.
The executives who land interviews aren’t always the best candidates. They’re just the ones who know how to play the system.
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To find out more, visit our website www.cvpilots.co.uk If you have any further questions, you can either book a consultation call with one of our team, or get in touch via email on team@cvpilots.co.uk
FAQ Section:
Q: What is an ATS CV?
An ATS CV is a CV formatted so Applicant Tracking Systems can read it correctly, helping you avoid automatic rejection.
Q: How do I make my CV ATS-friendly?
Keep formatting simple, match keywords from the job description, and save in a Word document or clean PDF.
Q: Should I use a CV template for ATS?
Avoid overly designed templates. Stick to clean layouts with no tables, graphics, or multiple columns.
Q: Can ATS read PDFs?
Yes, if saved properly from Word. But a Word (.docx) file is the safest choice
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