# What CV Format Gets Past the Robots (ATS)?

Software reads your CV before a human does. Here is how to format it so you do not get filtered out.

Category: CVs
Author: Tlangelani Khosa
Published: 2026-09-23
Tags: CVs, Job Search

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Before a human sees your CV, software usually reads it first. If that software struggles, you get filtered out no matter how good you are.

## The format that reads cleanly

- **One column**, not two
- A normal font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
- Standard headings: Experience, Education, Skills
- Contact details in the body, not the header or footer
- No tables, text boxes, or images in the body
- Save as PDF, unless the advert asks for Word

## Skip the fancy templates

Those beautiful designer CVs with side panels often read as gibberish to the software. A plain layout that ranks beats a pretty one that gets binned.

## Quick test

Copy all the text out of your CV and paste it into a blank document. If it comes out clean and in order, the software can read it. If it is a jumble, so is what the robot sees.

Part of the bigger picture: [the CV basics](/insights/south-african-cv-guide).

## FAQ

### What is an ATS?
Applicant tracking software that scans and ranks CVs before a person sees them. Many SA employers use one.

### Do Canva templates pass?
Often not. Columns, text boxes, and graphics can scramble when the software reads them.

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Canonical page: https://www.flyquest.co.za/insights/ats-friendly-cv-format-south-africa
Published by FlyQuest, South Africa's career platform for students and graduates.