ATS-Friendly CV Checklist
19 Checks Before You Submit
Over 90% of large employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter CVs before a human recruiter ever sees them. If your document fails even one of these automated checks, your application may be silently rejected — regardless of how qualified you actually are.
Use this checklist to verify that your CV passes both the machine filter and the human review. Items marked Required are non-negotiable for ATS compatibility. Items marked Recommended significantly improve your chances but are not absolute dealbreakers.
Formatting & Layout
These rules ensure the ATS parser can physically read your document.
Single-column layout
Your entire CV uses one column from top to bottom. No sidebars, no split layouts.
No tables or text boxes
All content is in the main document body. No Word tables, floating text boxes, or SmartArt.
No embedded images or graphics
No photos, logos, skill bars, icons, or infographics. ATS parsers cannot read image data.
Standard fonts only
Use universally supported fonts: Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, Garamond, or Helvetica. Size 10–12pt for body text.
Contact info in document body
Your name, email, and phone number are in the main text area — NOT in the Word header or footer, which many ATS systems skip.
Submitted as .docx or text-based PDF
Your file is a standard Word document or a text-selectable PDF. Never submit image-based PDFs, Canva exports, or InDesign files.
No headers or footers for critical info
Page numbers in footers are fine, but never place your name, email, or phone number in the document header/footer area.
Structure & Sections
These rules ensure the ATS correctly categorises your information.
Standard section headings
Use recognised headings: Professional Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications, Professional Summary. Avoid creative alternatives.
Reverse-chronological work history
Your most recent role appears first, followed by previous positions in descending order. Exception: Japanese Rirekisho uses chronological order.
Each role has company, title, location, dates
Every work experience entry includes the company name, your job title, the city/country, and the date range (Month YYYY – Month YYYY).
Professional Summary instead of Career Objective
A 2–3 sentence summary of your experience and key strengths replaces the outdated 'Career Objective' format used in many local markets.
No references section
Remove 'References available upon request' and all referee contact details. UK and Canadian employers consider this outdated.
Appropriate length (1–2 pages)
Entry-level: 1 page. Mid-career: 1–2 pages. Senior: 2 pages maximum. Never exceed 2 pages for an industry CV.
Content & Keywords
These rules ensure the ATS scores you highly against the job description.
Keywords mirror the job description
The exact skills, tools, and qualifications from the job posting appear naturally in your Professional Summary and bullet points.
Achievements, not duties
Every bullet point demonstrates measurable impact: revenue generated, costs reduced, processes improved, teams led. Avoid listing daily responsibilities.
Action verbs start each bullet point
Begin with strong verbs: Led, Delivered, Spearheaded, Reduced, Generated, Optimised, Implemented, Launched — not 'Responsible for.'
Both acronyms and full forms included
Write 'Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)' the first time so the ATS matches both the spelled-out version and the abbreviation.
No personal identifiers (for UK/Canada/US)
Remove photos, date of birth, marital status, religion, nationality, national ID numbers, and gender. These create legal liabilities for employers.
Right-to-work statement included
A clear work authorisation line appears in your header or summary: 'British Citizen,' 'Canadian PR,' or 'Skilled Worker visa holder.'
Automate These Checks Instantly
Manually verifying every item on this checklist is tedious and error-prone. CV Bridger automates the entire process: upload your existing CV, and our tool will strip out ATS-breaking elements (tables, columns, images, text boxes), restructure your layout into a clean single-column format, add the correct section headings, and output a document that passes every check on this list.