Workita

What is an ATS? — Software used by companies (Taleo, Greenhouse, Workday, SmartRecruiters) to parse, filter, and score CVs automatically before a human ever reads them. CVs below a score threshold are rejected without review.

How parsing works — The ATS extracts structured fields: job titles, employment dates, education, skills, and contact details. Anything it cannot parse (tables, text boxes, headers/footers, images) is silently dropped.

Tip: Mirror the job description — Use the exact keywords and phrases from the posting. If it says "stakeholder management", do not write "managing stakeholders".

Tip: Use a clean, single-column format — Avoid tables, columns, text boxes, and graphics. Use plain section headings: Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.

Tip: Spell out abbreviations once — Write "Product Manager (PM)" on first use. ATS engines may not recognise acronyms without context.

Tip: Keep dates consistent — Use the same format throughout (e.g., "Jan 2022 – Mar 2024"). Missing or ambiguous dates are a common rejection flag.

Tip: Quantify achievements — "Reduced churn by 18%" scores higher than "improved retention". Numbers stand out in keyword scoring.

Profile completeness — LinkedIn ranks complete profiles higher. Aim for "All-Star" status by filling in every section.

Keyword matching — Recruiters search by skills, titles, and industry keywords. Match your headline and summary to the roles you target.

Recruiter search behaviour — Most searches filter by current title, location, and skills. Your headline is the first thing they read.

ATS consistency — Many companies import LinkedIn profiles into ATS. Inconsistencies between your CV and LinkedIn raise flags.