How to Pass ATS Scanners
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software used by employers to filter job applications before a human ever sees them. To pass ATS scanners, use a clean format without tables or graphics, include keywords from the job description, and use standard section headings. Karriero shows your ATS compatibility score for every job listing.
What Is an ATS and How Does It Work?
An Applicant Tracking System is software that employers use to collect, sort, and rank job applications. Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies and a growing number of mid-size firms use ATS software. When you submit your CV online, it goes through the ATS before any recruiter sees it.
The ATS parses your CV into structured data, then scores it against the job description. CVs that don't match well enough are filtered out automatically. This means your CV needs to be both human-readable and machine-parseable.
Common Reasons CVs Get Rejected by ATS
The most common reasons include: using images, tables, or multi-column layouts that confuse parsers; missing keywords from the job description; using creative section headings instead of standard ones like "Experience" and "Education"; and submitting in formats the ATS can't read (some systems struggle with certain PDF encodings).
Headers and footers are often ignored by ATS parsers. If your contact information is in the header, the system may not capture it at all.
ATS-Friendly CV Best Practices
Use a single-column layout with standard fonts. Stick to conventional section headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills. Use bullet points for achievements. Include both the spelled-out and abbreviated forms of technical terms (e.g., "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)").
Save your CV as a .docx or standard PDF. Avoid creative templates with sidebars, icons, or infographics. Keep formatting simple: bold for headings, bullets for lists, and nothing else.
How Karriero Helps You Beat the ATS
When you upload your CV to Karriero and browse job listings, each job shows a compatibility score that estimates how well your CV matches the role. This score factors in keyword overlap, skills alignment, and experience relevance, similar to how an ATS would evaluate your application.
You can then use Karriero's AI tailoring tool to optimize your CV for specific positions, ensuring the right keywords and phrasing are included before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of CVs are rejected by ATS?
Industry estimates suggest that up to 75% of CVs are filtered out by ATS before reaching a human recruiter. The exact rate varies by company and role.
Can I use a designed CV template with ATS?
It depends on the template. Avoid templates with tables, columns, images, or graphics. A clean single-column layout with standard headings is the safest choice for ATS compatibility.
What file format should I use for ATS submissions?
Use .docx or a standard text-based PDF. Avoid scanned PDFs (image-based), as ATS cannot extract text from them. When in doubt, .docx is the safest format.
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