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Many employers collect applications in an applicant tracking system (ATS), software that reads your file, stores the text and lets recruiters search it. Systems differ, and nobody outside a given company can promise how theirs behaves. What you can do is make your file as easy to read as possible, for people and for software alike.
What an ATS actually does
In general, an ATS extracts text from your file, tries to sort it into fields such as name, job titles, employers and dates, and stores it so a recruiter can read or search it. Whether a human reads every application first depends on the employer. Do not assume there is an automatic score you can “beat”. The practical goal is simple: your text must be extractable and in a sensible order.
Use real text, not pictures of text
Save your CV as a PDF made from text, as CvBix’s browser “Save as PDF” does, so the words can be selected and copied. A scanned page or a screenshot is only an image, and software may read nothing from it. Test your own file: open the PDF, select all the text and paste it into a plain text editor. If the words come out in a sensible order, the file is in good shape.
Keep the structure simple
Use ordinary headings such as Experience, Education and Skills. Creative names like “My journey” may be charming, but software and recruiters look for the familiar ones. Multi-column designs, text boxes, tables and decorative icons can be read in a confusing order by some systems. If an application is important, a single-column or simple two-column template without a photo is the safer choice, and CvBix lets you switch templates without retyping.
Write dates and job titles consistently
Use the same date style everywhere, for example “Mar 2021 – Jun 2023”. Put the job title, employer and dates in the same order for every role. This helps both the software and the person scanning your history. Use the common name of a role, and if your official title was unusual, add a plain description in the first bullet.
Use the advert’s words only where they are true
Skills and tools named in the advert are worth mentioning if you genuinely have them, ideally in your experience lines where you show how you used them. Do not stuff a hidden list of keywords, change text colour to hide them or copy the whole advert into your CV. That does not help a person who reads your application, and it can count against you.
Check the file before you upload it
Read the application page for requirements on file type, size and naming. Fill any form fields the system generates from your CV and correct mistakes. If the system offers a preview of how it read your CV, look at it carefully. For the final step, use the CvBix PDF checklist to confirm your PDF is complete.
Related examples and guides
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Does CvBix give an ATS score?
No. CvBix does not calculate a score and cannot say how a specific employer’s system will read your file. This guide covers general good practice only.
Should I avoid photos on my CV?
It depends on the country and employer. If the advert does not request one, a photo-free template is the simpler choice. CvBix has photo and photo-free templates.