An ATS scanner ranking three CVs: a 92% match, a 65% match and a 31% match ATS SCANNER 92% 65% 31%

What is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that employers use to manage job applications. When you submit your CV online, it often goes through an ATS before a person reads it. The system parses your CV, extracts information, and ranks you against other candidates based on keyword matches and formatting.

If the system can't read your CV properly, or your CV doesn't use the words the job ad uses, it can rank you below less qualified candidates. Most ATS problems are easy to fix once you know what to look for.

How ATS Systems Work

ATS software does three main things:

  1. Parses your CV — extracts text and organises it into fields (name, email, experience, skills, education)
  2. Matches keywords — compares your content against the job description requirements
  3. Ranks candidates — scores applicants based on match percentage and presents a shortlist to the recruiter

Which UK Employers Use ATS?

Many medium and large employers, recruitment agencies and public sector organisations use some form of ATS, and job boards often have applicant tracking built in for smaller businesses. There's no reliable public list of which employer uses which system, but you can often tell from the careers site: its web address or page footer may name the software.

  • Widely used systems include Workday, Oracle Recruiting (which includes Taleo), SAP SuccessFactors, iCIMS, Greenhouse and Lever
  • Recruitment agencies use their own systems too, such as Bullhorn
  • Public sector: NHS jobs in England and Wales are advertised through NHS Jobs, and Civil Service roles through Civil Service Jobs

The advice below works for all of them. The systems differ in detail, but they all need to read your text and match it to the job.

How to Make Your CV ATS-Friendly

1. Use Standard Section Headings

ATS systems look for recognisable headings to categorise your information. Use:

  • "Work Experience" or "Professional Experience" (not "My Career Journey")
  • "Education" (not "Academic Background")
  • "Skills" (not "What I Bring")
  • "Contact Information" (at the top, not in a sidebar)

2. Include Keywords from the Job Description

Read the job posting carefully and identify the key requirements. Include these terms naturally throughout your CV. If they ask for "project management" and "stakeholder engagement," make sure those exact phrases appear in your experience bullets. Our skills section guide shows how to work them into your skills list too.

3. Use a Simple Layout

Single-column layouts are the safest. Avoid:

  • Two-column designs (some ATS read left-to-right across columns, scrambling your content)
  • Tables and text boxes
  • Images, logos, or graphics
  • Headers and footers for important information

4. Save as PDF

PDF is the safest format for ATS in 2026. Modern systems handle PDFs well, and the formatting stays intact. Avoid .docx unless specifically requested. Our UK CV format guide covers file types, fonts and layout in more detail.

5. Spell Out Acronyms

Include both the acronym and the full phrase: "Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)" rather than just "SEO." This catches both versions in keyword matching.

Common ATS Myths

  • "ATS can't read PDFs" — False. Modern ATS handles PDFs fine, especially text-based ones.
  • "Two-column CVs always fail" — Not always, but single-column is safer.
  • "There's a magic ATS score" — There's no universal score. Each ATS works differently.
  • "Keyword stuffing works" — No. ATS may pass you, but the human reader won't.

Check Your CV's ATS Compatibility

CV Mojo's free ATS Checker analyses your CV against common ATS requirements and flags formatting issues, missing keywords, and structural problems. Sign up free and run your first check in seconds. Or check your CV free without signing up to get an instant CV Score out of 100 and your top fixes.