How to Beat ATS Systems: Complete Guide for 2025

What is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that companies use to manage job applications. It scans, parses, and ranks CVs based on how well they match the job description.

Popular ATS systems include:

• Workday
• Greenhouse
• Lever
• Taleo
• iCIMS
• SAP SuccessFactors

How ATS Scanning Works

Parsing: The ATS extracts text from your CV and categorises it (contact info, experience, education, skills)

Keyword Matching: It compares your CV against the job description

Ranking: Candidates are scored and ranked based on match percentage

Filtering: Recruiters see top-ranked candidates first (or filter by minimum score)

ATS-Friendly CV Format

File Format

• Best: .docx (Word document)
• Good: .pdf (if it's text-based, not scanned)
• Avoid: .pages, .odt, images of your CV

Layout

• Use standard section headings: "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills"
• Avoid tables, columns, and text boxes
• Don't use headers or footers for important info
• Stick to standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
• Use bullet points, not symbols or icons

Contact Information

• Include your name, email, phone, and LinkedIn URL
• Don't put contact info in a header - many ATS can't read headers

Keyword Optimisation

Finding the Right Keywords

Analyse the job description - Highlight key skills, qualifications, and requirements

Use exact phrasing - If they say "Project Management", use that phrase, not "managed projects"

Include variations - Write "Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)" to catch both versions

Check our keyword guides - Visit our ATS Keywords section for role-specific keywords

Where to Place Keywords

• Skills section - List technical and soft skills
• Work experience - Naturally weave into achievement statements
• Professional summary - Include 2-3 core skills
• Education - Include relevant coursework or certifications

Keyword Density

Don't stuff keywords unnaturally. ATS systems are sophisticated enough to detect this, and your CV still needs to impress human reviewers.

Natural: "Led digital marketing campaigns across Google Ads, Facebook, and LinkedIn, achieving 45% improvement in ROI"

Keyword stuffing: "Digital marketing digital marketing specialist with digital marketing experience in digital marketing campaigns" - This will likely get flagged.

Common ATS Mistakes

Creative formatting - Infographic CVs look great but fail ATS parsing

Missing keywords - Not including skills mentioned in the job ad

Incorrect file type - Uploading a format the ATS can't read

Abbreviations only - Writing "ML" without also saying "Machine Learning"

Images and graphics - ATS can't read text in images

Non-standard headings - "My Journey" instead of "Work Experience"

Testing Your CV

Before applying, test your CV:

Copy-paste test: Copy your CV into a plain text editor. If it's readable and in order, the ATS should parse it correctly.

Use our CV scanner: Our free ATS checker analyses your CV against common ATS requirements.

Beyond the ATS

Remember: passing the ATS is just step one. Your CV still needs to impress the human reviewer. Focus on:

• Clear, quantified achievements
• Relevant experience highlighted
• Professional presentation
• Error-free writing

Key Takeaways

• Use a simple, clean format (.docx preferred)
• Include keywords from the job description naturally
• Use standard section headings
• Avoid graphics, tables, and creative layouts
• Test your CV before submitting

Want to optimise your CV for specific roles? Browse our ATS keyword guides for comprehensive keyword lists by job title.