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ATS-Friendly CV Writing Tips

In today’s highly competitive job market, having a well written CV isn’t enough, it needs to be omtimised for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These systems are designed to filter and rank CV’s before a human ever sees them. If your CV isn’t ATS-friendly, it could be rejected before it even reaches a recruiter’s inbox. Whether you’re actively job hunting or simply updating your CV, here are essential tips to ensure your application passes the ATS scan and lands you that interview.

1. Use Standard Section Headings: Stick to headings like “Work Experience,” “Education,” etc., so ATS can easily identify them.

2. No Graphics or Tables: ATS systems struggle with images, charts, text boxes, and columns.

3.  Use a Simple Font: Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman in 10-12pt size.

4. Submit in Word Format (.doc or .docx): Some ATS systems don’t read PDFs correctly

5. Incorporate Keywords from the Job Ad: Tailor each CV to the job description.
6. Avoid Headers/Footers: Some ATS systems can’t read content in headers and footers.
7. List Acronyms and Full Terms: e.g., “Human Resources (HR)” or “Microsoft Excel (MS Excel)”
8. Keep It Chronological: Use reverse chronological order for work experience.
9. Spell Out Locations: Instead of abbreviating (e.g., write “KwaZulu-Natal” not “KZN”).
10. Don’t Overuse Buzzwords: Only use meaningful, measurable achievements.