Guide
What is an ATS, and how does it read your CV?
An ATS (applicant tracking system) receives CVs, extracts their text and stores it in a database the recruiter searches. Understanding this reading helps you prepare a readable file.
What an ATS does
Large companies and many agencies use an ATS: Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, Lever, SmartRecruiters or Teamtailor, for example. The software:
- records each application and its status;
- extracts the text of the CV and splits it into sections (experience, education, skills);
- lets the recruiter filter and search by job title, keyword, degree or location.
In most cases the decision stays with the recruiter: the ATS presents the applications, sorted by their searches.
What an ATS reads well
- a PDF or Word file with selectable text;
- a one-column layout, read from top to bottom;
- standard section headings: Experience, Education, Skills, Languages;
- dates in the same format throughout, for example 03/2022 – 06/2024;
- the exact terms of the advert for tools, methods and job titles.
What confuses the reading
Several common layouts make text extraction harder:
- two columns, which some software reads line by line, mixing both;
- a table to present experience;
- text placed in an image, a header or a footer;
- icons in place of words, such as a phone for the number or stars for a level.
An ATS-friendly CV keeps one column and real text, and stays pleasant for the recruiter to read.
Frequently asked questions
Does an ATS reject CVs automatically?
Some filters exist, such as knockout questions asked when you apply (driving licence, right to work in the country). Beyond those, the recruiter searches and sorts the database: a clear, precise CV stands out better.
Should I fill my CV with keywords?
Use the keywords that describe your real experience, where they apply. A recruiter then reads the CV, and a pasted list of words shows straight away. See how to find the keywords of a job offer.
PDF or Word for an ATS?
Both work when the text is real and the layout simple. Follow the format the advert asks for; otherwise, a one-column PDF keeps the layout intact.