What an ATS does
An applicant tracking system extracts text into fields such as name, employer, dates and skills. Messy formatting can lead to wrong or missing fields.
Safe formatting rules
- Use standard headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.
- Prefer a single column or a simple two-column layout without tables inside experience.
- Use common fonts and avoid text boxes, headers and footers for key details.
- Put contact details in the body, not in a header or footer.
- Save or export as a text-based PDF or Word file, not an image.
- Keep dates consistent, for example Apr 2021 – Mar 2024.
Keywords
Mirror the language of the job description when it is true for you. Include both the full term and the abbreviation once, for example Accounts Payable (AP).
Check in the app
Use the ATS Check page to scan your CV for missing sections, weak bullets, placeholders and keyword gaps.
Keep reading
Quantifying Achievements in Accounting and FinanceWhere to find the numbers and how to phrase them honestly.Strong Action Verbs for Finance and Accounting BulletsVerb banks grouped by task, so bullets start strong.Building a Skills Section That WorksGroup skills by type and show depth instead of long keyword lists.Listing Certifications, Exams and ArticleshipHow to show completed, part-qualified and in-progress qualifications honestly.