The Ultimate Guide to ATS-Optimized CVs
Learn how to craft a resume that passes the bots and impresses humans. Structure, keywords, and formatting - decoded.
Step-by-Step
Building the Perfect Structure
Follow this blueprint to ensure your CV is readable by both humans and Applicant Tracking Systems.
- 1Structure Matters
Start with a clean, logical layout. Use reverse chronological order for your experience.
Pro Tips:
- Use standard headers (Experience, Education).
- Avoid columns if possible for better ATS parsing.
- 2Contact Information
Keep it simple. Name, phone, email, and LinkedIn URL. No full addresses needed.
Pro Tips:
- Ensure your email is professional.
- Hyperlink your LinkedIn profile.
- 3Professional Summary
Your elevator pitch. 3-4 sentences highlighting your key role and biggest achievements.
Pro Tips:
- Tailor this to the job description.
- Include relevant keywords.
- 4Experience & Impact
Don't just list duties. List achievements with metrics (e.g., 'Increased revenue by 20%').
Pro Tips:
- Use strong action verbs (Led, Created, Optimized).
- Quantify results wherever possible.
- 5Skills Section
List hard skills (tools, languages) separate from soft skills. This is gold for ATS matching.
Pro Tips:
- Group skills by category if you have many.
- Mirror the skills listed in the job post.
- 6The ATS Golden Standards
Avoid common pitfalls that confuse bots. Keep it text-based and avoid complex formatting like tables or graphics.
Pro Tips:
- Stick to standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Helvetica).
- Save as .docx or text-based PDF only.
Stop Guessing
Is your CV capable of beating the bots?
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- Keyword Matching.
- See exactly which keywords are missing compared to your target job description.
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- Actionable advice to increase your ATS match score and visibility.
You have the interview, now ace it.
A great CV gets your foot in the door. Our AI Interview Prep helps you walk through it. Practice with questions tailored to your specific role and resume.
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