What is an ATS and how does it read your CV?

If you're reading this this, it probably means that you have applied for a job (or more) and heard nothing back from the hiring company. I know it's frustrating, and you should know that it’s not always because the recruiter ghosted you.
There’s a good chance your CV never even reached human eyes because of something called an ATS.

Let’s break down what an Applicant Tracking System actually is, how it “reads” your CV, and what you can do to make sure your resume gets past the robot and into the right hands.

What is an ATS?

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System — a type of software that companies use to collect, organize, and filter job applications.

Think of it as the digital gatekeeper between you and the recruiter.

When you apply for a role, your CV doesn’t go straight to a person. It goes into the company’s ATS, where the system automatically:

1. Parses (reads) your CV content.

2. Indexes your information into fields (name, skills, experience, etc.).

3. Ranks your CV based on how well it matches the job description.

Recruiters then search or sort through these applications — often by keywords — to find the best matches.

How does an ATS read your CV?

ATS systems aren’t reading your CV the way a human would. They scan and interpret text using algorithms designed to detect specific patterns, sections, and keywords.

Here’s what happens backstage:

1. Parsing your CV file

The ATS breaks down your CV file to extract structured data such as your name, contact info, education, and work history.
If your CV uses complex formatting (like tables, text boxes, or multiple columns), the ATS can get confused and skip information.

Tip: Always use a simple, one-column layout with clear headings like “Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.”

2. Detecting keywords

ATS systems scan for keywords from the job description, especially job titles, tools, certifications, and skills.

If the job ad mentions “Python,” “data visualization,” or “project management,” and those words don’t appear in your CV, you’ll rank lower in the system.

Tip: Customize your CV for each job by adding relevant keywords naturally into your work experience and skills sections.

3. Analyzing structure and formatting

ATS looks for recognizable section headings like:

• Work Experience

• Education

• Skills

• Certifications

Creative alternatives like “My Journey” or “Where I Studied” may sound fun, but the system won’t recognize them.

Tip: Stick to standard section names and simple fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.

4. Checking for file compatibility

Some ATS tools can’t read scanned PDFs or image-based resumes.

Tip: Save your CV as a .docx or searchable PDF (text can be highlighted). Avoid screenshots or fancy graphic templates.

5. Ranking your match score

Finally, the ATS calculates how closely your CV matches the job description. It may generate a match percentage (e.g., 78%) or sort candidates by score. Recruiters usually review the top results first.

This is why keyword optimization and clean formatting matter and they directly affect whether your CV gets seen.

Common ATS mistakes that hide your CV

Even experienced professionals make these errors:

• Using tables or columns that break parsing

• Writing creative job titles that don’t match the industry standard

• Leaving out keywords from the job ad

• Saving CVs as scanned images

• Using headers or footers for contact details

• Including emojis or unusual symbols

• Forgetting to spell out acronyms (e.g., write “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)” once)

How to make your CV ATS-friendly

Follow these practical rules to help your CV get through any system:

Use standard headings and fonts
Keep your layout clean (one column, no graphics)
Add job-specific keywords naturally
Use consistent date formats
Avoid headers, footers, and special characters
Save in .docx or searchable PDF format
Proofread for spelling and grammar (ATS can’t recognize misspelled keywords)

Test your CV with Mafiro’s free ATS checker

Not sure if your CV passes the ATS test?
You can upload your CV and the job description to Mafiro’s free ATS CV checker to see exactly how the system reads your document.

You’ll get:

• A percentage score for ATS compatibility

• A keyword match analysis

• Suggestions to enhance your CV

• Multiple ATS-friendly CV templates ready to download in DOCX format

It’s the easiest way to make your CV stand out — both to the software and to the recruiter.

An ATS isn’t your enemy, it’s just a filter. Once you understand how it works, you can format your CV so it passes through cleanly and lands on the recruiter’s screen.

If you want to maximize your chances, test your CV before you apply.
Mafiro helps you do that in seconds and even builds an optimized version for you.

Try Mafiro’s ATS CV Template tool and make sure your next application actually gets read.