How to Beat ATS: 15 Data-Backed Tips That Actually Work

16 March 202611 min read

Getting past an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is not about tricks or hacks. It is about understanding how these systems work and structuring your CV accordingly. With up to 75% of CVs filtered out before a human reviews them, these 15 tips can make the difference between landing an interview and disappearing into the application void.

1. Tailor your CV for every single application

This is the most impactful thing you can do. A CV tailored to the specific job description will almost always outscore a generic one. Read the job posting carefully, identify the key requirements, and adjust your CV to reflect them.

Before: "Experienced marketing professional with a track record of success"

After: "Digital marketing manager with 5 years of experience in SEO, PPC, and content strategy for B2B SaaS companies"

The second version matches the kind of specific language an ATS looks for. Tools like ATS Pass can show you exactly which keywords you are missing for each role.

2. Use keywords from the job description, naturally

Extract the most important keywords from the job posting: required skills, qualifications, tools, certifications, and job title variations. Weave them into your CV naturally, particularly in your summary, skills section, and work experience bullet points.

Do not simply copy-paste the job description into your CV. Modern ATS systems can detect keyword stuffing, and even if they cannot, the recruiter who eventually reads your CV certainly will.

3. Use standard section headings

ATS parsers look for specific section labels. Use conventional headings:

Work Experience (not "My Career Journey" or "Professional Timeline")
Education (not "Academic Background")
Skills (not "What I Bring to the Table")
Summary or Profile (not "About Me")
Certifications (not "Credentials I've Earned")

Creative headings may look distinctive to a human, but they confuse automated parsers.

4. Stick to a single-column layout

Multi-column layouts, sidebars, and creative grids are problematic for most ATS parsers. They read content left-to-right, top-to-bottom, and a two-column layout can result in jumbled text, mixing your work experience with your skills section, for example.

Use a clean, single-column format with clear section breaks.

5. Avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics

ATS systems extract raw text from your document. Elements that are visually appealing but technically separate from the text flow (tables, text boxes, images, charts, icons, and infographics) are typically ignored entirely or parsed incorrectly.

That skill rating bar chart showing "Python: 90%" means nothing to an ATS. Just list "Python" in your skills section.

6. Choose the right file format

PDF is generally the safest choice for modern ATS systems. Most current platforms parse PDFs reliably, and the formatting stays consistent across devices.

DOCX is also widely accepted and sometimes preferred by older ATS platforms.

Avoid: Scanned PDFs (image-based), .pages files, .odt, password-protected documents, and anything that is not machine-readable text.

7. Use a standard, readable font

Stick to fonts that every system can render: Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, Garamond, or Helvetica. Use 10-12pt for body text and 14-16pt for headings.

Avoid decorative fonts, custom typefaces, or anything that requires a special installation. If the ATS cannot render your font, it may misread or skip characters.

8. Include both the acronym and the full term

If the job description mentions "SEO", include both "SEO" and "Search Engine Optimisation" in your CV. Different ATS systems may search for either form, and you cannot know which one the employer configured.

Other common examples:

CRM / Customer Relationship Management
PPC / Pay-Per-Click
AWS / Amazon Web Services
SQL / Structured Query Language

9. Mirror the job title

If the posting is for a "Senior Product Manager", use that exact title in your CV where applicable, either in your current role title or your summary. ATS systems often weight job title matches heavily.

If your actual title was different but the role was equivalent, you can note it: "Product Lead (equivalent to Senior Product Manager)".

10. Quantify your achievements

While ATS systems primarily match keywords, quantified achievements make a strong impression on the recruiter who reads your CV after it passes screening:

Weak: "Responsible for improving sales performance"

Strong: "Increased quarterly sales revenue by 32% (£450K) through targeted account management and upselling strategy"

Numbers, percentages, and currency figures make your impact concrete and memorable.

11. Include a skills section

A dedicated skills section is one of the most ATS-friendly elements you can include. List your relevant hard skills, tools, software, certifications, and technical competencies here. This gives the ATS a concentrated block of keywords to match against.

Organise by category for readability:

Technical: Python, SQL, Tableau, Google Analytics
Marketing: SEO, Content Strategy, Email Marketing, A/B Testing
Certifications: Google Ads Certified, HubSpot Inbound Marketing

12. Do not put important information in headers or footers

Many ATS systems ignore document headers and footers entirely. Never place your name, contact details, or any critical information in these areas. Keep everything in the main body of the document.

13. Use standard date formats

Present your work experience dates consistently and in a standard format:

"January 2023 to Present" or "Jan 2023 to Present"
"2021 to 2023"

Avoid ambiguous formats, symbols, or creative date presentations. The ATS needs to parse your dates to calculate years of experience.

14. Spell-check everything

Typos and misspellings can cause keyword mismatches. If the job requires "JavaScript" and your CV says "Java Script" or "Javscript", the ATS may not recognise it as a match. Run spell-check, and then manually review technical terms and proper nouns.

15. Test your CV before submitting

The most overlooked step: actually checking your CV against the job description before you apply. You would not submit a presentation without reviewing it, yet most people send their CV without ever testing its ATS compatibility.

ATS Pass lets you check your CV against any job description for free. You get 3 analyses per day, no sign-up required. You will see your compatibility score, which keywords you matched, which you missed, and specific suggestions for improvement. Check out the step-by-step guide to get started.

Quick reference checklist

Tailored for this specific job description
Keywords from the job posting included naturally
Standard section headings used
Single-column layout
No tables, text boxes, or graphics
Clean PDF or DOCX format
Standard, readable font
Acronyms and full terms both included
Job title mirrors the posting
Achievements quantified with numbers
Dedicated skills section included
No critical info in headers/footers
Consistent date formatting
Spell-checked thoroughly
Tested with an ATS checker

The bottom line

Beating an ATS is not about gaming the system. It is about removing the barriers between your qualifications and the recruiter who needs to see them. Every tip on this list serves the same purpose: making sure the ATS can accurately read, parse, and score your CV so that your genuine experience gets the attention it deserves.