What is ATS? What you need to know to prevent your CV from being rejected before it reaches people.

Today, many companies filter job applications through software called ATS (Applicant Tracking System) instead of sending them directly to human resources teams.

These systems automatically analyze submitted CVs and score them according to specific criteria, forwarding only the most suitable candidates to human resources.

In other words:

Your CV is first read by software, then by a human.

If your CV isn't ATS-compliant, it may be rejected without even being seen, even if you're a very good programmer, designer, or manager.

How does ATS work?

ATS systems essentially do three things:

1. It parses (separates) the text within the CV.
2. It analyzes keywords.
3. Calculates the job posting match score.

For example, if a job advertisement mentions the following technologies:

1. Laravel
2. REST API
3. Docker
4. MySQL

ATS systems search your CV for these keywords and assign a score based on the match rate .

Key Elements ATS Systems Looks For in a CV

ATS systems pay particular attention to the following sections:

1. Professional Summary

A brief summary located at the top of the CV.

Example:

This section is very important from an ATS perspective because keywords are usually concentrated here.

2. Skills Section

ATS systems primarily analyze the skills section.

For a sample software developer:

3. Experience Section

ATS systems analyze not only the job title but also the work performed.

A weak example:

A strong example:

ATS's Least Favorite CV Mistakes

Many CVs are rejected not because of poor content, but because of incorrect formatting .

The most common mistakes:

1. Use of graphics and icons

ATS cannot read some characters.

For example:

Instead, the following should be used:

2. Complex design

ATS systems have difficulty reading the following structures:

1. two-column CV
2. text box
3. layout created with a table
4. graphic skill bars

The safest format:

Single column and plain text.

3. PDF format is not always safe.

Some ATS systems cannot correctly parse PDF files.

The safest format:

DOCX

4. CV in a mix of Turkish and English.

International ATS systems generally operate in English.

Example error:

More accurately:

Golden Rules for an ATS-Compliant CV

For a CV to be ATS compliant, the following rules are important:

1. Use a simple design.
2. Use a single-column layout.
3. I prefer the DOCX format.
4. Use the keywords in the job advertisement.
5. Keep the Skills section extensive.
6. Use bullet points in the Experience section.
7. Avoid using unnecessary graphics and icons.

Websites Where You Can Check Your ATS CV for Free

Here are some free tools you can use to test your CV's ATS compatibility:

1. resumeworded.com
2. jobscan.co
3. resumego.net
4. skillroads.com

These tools typically perform the following analyses:

1. ATS score
2. keyword match
3. recruiter feedback

The Secret to Passing the ATS

Passing the ATS (Automatic Test System) isn't actually difficult.

The basic principle is this:

Write your CV with the mindset that a software program will read it first.

A good CV:

1. readable
2. rich in keywords
3. simple
4. results-oriented

should be.

Remember:

Passing the ATS is the first step to getting the job.