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.
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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.
Frequently asked questions
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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