If you apply to large or international companies and never hear back, the problem may not be you but your CV file. Many companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) that reads and ranks CVs automatically before HR sees them.
What does an ATS actually do?
It converts your CV to text, extracts your name, experience, education and skills, then compares them with the keywords in the job ad. CVs with the right keywords rank higher; the rest may never be seen.
1. Use the exact keywords from the job ad
If the ad says "Financial Reporting" and "SAP", use those exact terms in your skills and experience, not just synonyms. Pull 8–10 key terms from the ad and make sure they appear in your CV (as long as they are true).
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Create your CV2. A simple single-column layout
- Sidebars and tables can be read across, mixing up information.
- Text inside images or icons is not read at all.
- CVs designed as images often reach the system empty.
3. Standard section headings
Use headings such as Professional Experience, Education and Skills. Creative headings like "My Journey" confuse the system.
4. Standard fonts and real text
Use fonts like Calibri, Arial or Georgia at 10–12 pt, and send a text-based PDF, never a scanned one.
5. Clear, consistent dates
Write month and year the same way everywhere, such as Mar 2021 – Present, so the system calculates your experience correctly.
6. Do not stuff keywords
Hiding keywords in white text or repeating them 20 times gets spotted, and even if it passes the ATS it will not pass HR. Put keywords into real sentences about your work.
A quick test
Open your PDF, select all, and paste it into a plain-text editor. If the text comes out clean and in order, an ATS can read it. If it is jumbled or empty, change your layout.
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