What’s an ATS?

The applicant monitoring system (or ATS) has an undeservedly unhealthy fame amongst job seekers, so on this article Phrase Dragon goals to elucidate their function and bust a few of these myths.

What’s an ATS precisely?

An Applicant Monitoring System is just software program that an employer makes use of to handle on-line recruitment. They’re utilized by an amazing majority of enormous companies, in addition to many medium-sized ones, to help their dealing with of CVs, applicant data and the recruitment course of. Job websites, similar to Certainly and LinkedIn, additionally use them.

Why are ATS used?

Firms within the UK use applicant monitoring programs to hurry up the time it takes to recruit candidates and to retailer and retrieve data. Companies can obtain tons of of functions for one emptiness, starting from the eminently certified to these simply chancing their luck. The ATS may also help them to slender down an enormous variety of CVs in a short time, to create a shortlist of potential interviewees. 

What issues do ATS trigger?

If the ATS is only a benign recruiter software, why are so many job seekers asking “what’s an ATS”? Whereas the advantages for recruiters are clear, the applicant monitoring system does require the job seeker to place a tiny bit extra consideration into their CV. For optimum readability, they require CVs that are conventionally structured, with the related key phrases and smart formatting. There are a lot of completely different applicant monitoring programs available on the market, some higher than others, so it is value writing a CV that accommodates even the older programs. 

Can my CV be rejected by an ATS?

No, applicant monitoring programs don’t reject CVs

. In case you really feel that your CV has been rejected by an applicant monitoring system, it might be because of your responses to the screening questions. In case your on-line software concerned responding to questions once you uploaded your CV, your responses might set off a rejection. Recruiters can use screening questions to right away disqualify candidates that do not meet their primary necessities  (similar to having the correct to work within the UK or holding a related diploma) – and these responses are managed by the ATS. The parameters are at all times set by a human. Except you fail the screening questions, a human will virtually actually evaluation your CV.

Nonetheless, an ATS can typically be used to rank CVs primarily based on standards set by the recruiter and the recruiter can select whether or not to evaluation each single CV or simply people who the ATS has ranked extremely. The recruiter can even use the ATS to carry out key phrase searches on CVs. That’s why it’s vital to align your CV with the job description as intently as attainable. 

How can I beat the ATS?

The ATS is not your enemy and also you needn’t “beat” it – it is merely a recruitment software. There are tons of of applicant monitoring programs available on the market, each one completely different. A well-written CV ought to naturally be learn precisely by any ATS, however typically seemingly best candidates can fall by means of the hole. To keep away from this, there are a couple of easy guidelines to keep in mind.

Methods to write an ATS-friendly CV

To be sure that your carefully-prepared CV is learn as you’d want by an applicant monitoring system, bear the next ideas in thoughts:

Use standard headers for every part

Every part of the CV ought to be clearly identifiable –

, Training or

, Profession Historical past and so forth. These are the headings that the applicant monitoring system will use to classify the data on the CV, so don’t be tempted to go off-piste with What You Have to Know About Me or What I Do type headers. Do not use headers which are the identical font dimension and magnificence as the remainder of the doc – that is finest follow when writing for people as effectively!

Linear format with no graphics is finest 

Don’t use tables, textual content bins or graphics – the format will be misinterpret when the CV is scanned by older applicant monitoring programs, so your carefully-constructed doc may find yourself as nonsense. An applicant monitoring system doesn’t care what your CV appears to be like like visually. Your purpose is for the CV to be scanned as precisely as attainable by the ATS and nonetheless look skilled to a human. Over-formatting and graphics received’t provide help to to realize both purpose. 

Write chronologically 

Write your CV in reverse chronological order. Useful, or skills-based, CVs are tougher for applicant monitoring programs to classify precisely.

Use key phrases liberally – however not excessively

Ensure you’re utilizing role-specific wording. Ideally, acquire a couple of examples of related job adverts and pick widespread key phrases. These will provide help to to decide on the vocabulary you’ll use in your CV. For a

, for instance, you might determine “gross sales” and “customer support” as key phrases. Some phrases will profit from repeating, as typically an ATS will assess the frequency, in addition to the presence, of phrases. Keep in mind, although, that it’s going to nonetheless must learn naturally when a human sees it; due to this fact, extreme key phrase stuffing will not be really helpful!

Beware headers and footers

Use headers and footers for web page numbers or to repeat your identify, however by no means for important data – the ATS might not learn it. 

Select an applicable file format

Save solely in PDF or Phrase format – ideally Phrase, however observe the directions given by the recruiter.

What’s an ATS? FAQs

Is a 70% ATS rating good?

There is not any such factor as a universally “good” ATS rating. With tons of of ATSs available on the market, every one operates in a different way and makes use of completely different standards. Somewhat than specializing in an arbitrary rating, deal with writing a robust CV that may impress recruiters hiring for the kind of roles you are focused on.

Can my CV be learn by ATS?

Any CV will be saved within the ATS, however for it to be learn precisely each time, you must be sure that there aren’t any graphics, icons, tables, columns, or charts. A single column, text-only doc is finest.

Why is ATS rejecting my CV?

In case you’re getting instant rejections to your software, it is seemingly that the issue is in your responses to the screening questions somewhat than in your CV. ATSs can ship automated rejections to candidates who do not cross the preliminary screening. In any other case, it is seemingly that your CV will not be being rejected by the ATS, however by a human.

The key to beating the ATS

There’s no nice secret to making sure that your CV ranks extremely with an ATS. They do not exist to trick you or eradicate you. A

that sells your abilities and expertise ought to mechanically have the correct phrases in the correct construction. 

Ask for assist

If you wish to be sure that your carefully-crafted CV will probably be parsed precisely by an ATS, why not

? Phrase Dragon is wanting ahead to serving to you – simply

.

Up to date 2026