How to Get Your CV Past Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Robots

You applied for the job. You waited. You refreshed your inbox far too many times.

Maybe you received a generic rejection email. Maybe you heard nothing at all.

Most job seekers assume a human reviewed their CV and decided not to progress them — but in many cases, a robot rejected your application before a human ever saw it.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) filter, rank and sort candidates long before a recruiter steps in. Understanding how these systems work is essential if you want your CV to stand a fighting chance.

---

What Is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

An Applicant Tracking System is software used by recruiters, HR teams and employers to manage job applications at scale. When you upload your CV, the ATS reads, scans and categorises it using keyword-matching and CV-parsing technology. It then decides whether your CV moves forward to a human or is quietly filtered out.

In short: if your CV isn’t ATS-friendly, you may never make it onto a shortlist.

---

How ATS Software Works

When you apply for a job, an ATS will:

1. Scan your CV to extract your job titles, skills, dates, education and experience.
2. Match your CV to the job description using keywords and required competencies.
3. Rank your application against other applicants based on relevance.
4. Store your profile in the employer’s CRM for future roles if you rank strongly.

This is why candidates often never hear back — the system simply didn’t think the CV matched closely enough to the role.

---

Why Employers Use ATS

ATS software isn’t designed to make your life harder — it exists because employers need to process huge volumes of applications quickly and consistently. Key benefits include:

✔ Efficient Candidate Management

ATS tools organise hundreds (or thousands) of applications without manual effort. Recruiters save time, stay organised and can quickly identify promising candidates.

✔ Improved Hiring Team Collaboration

Recruiters, hiring managers and HR teams can review, comment and shortlist candidates in one central platform — even if they work across different offices or time zones.

✔ Compliance and Reporting

ATS platforms ensure recruiters follow data privacy, record-keeping and equal opportunity requirements. They also provide useful recruitment analytics for continuous improvement.

---

How ATS Affects Your CV

Applicant Tracking Systems don’t “read” CVs the way humans do. They pull information based on structure, formatting and keywords. Anything the system can’t interpret correctly may be ignored.

1. Formatting Limitations

ATS software struggles with:

• Tables
• Text boxes
• Graphics or icons
• Columns
• Unusual fonts
• Headers and footers

Simple formatting is essential if you want the system to read your CV accurately.

2. Keyword Matching

The ATS checks whether your CV includes the skills and qualifications listed in the job description. If the keywords aren’t present, or are phrased differently, your CV may not rank highly enough to progress.

3. ATS Scoring and Ranking

Candidates are ranked based on their match to the role. High-ranking CVs go to a human recruiter. Lower-ranking CVs are filtered out.

To be competitive, your CV must clearly reflect the skills, experience and terminology used in the job ad.

---

How to Get Your CV Past ATS Robots in Australia

You don’t need tricks or hacks — you need a CV that is strategically written for both ATS and human readers. Here’s how:

• Use standard job titles: ATS won’t recognise creative titles like “Customer Happiness Hero”. Keep it simple and accurate.
• Write clear, keyword-rich skills: Use the exact terms listed in the job description where they genuinely apply.
• Stick to a clean, simple layout: No tables, text boxes, graphics, icons or complicated formatting.
• Place your work history in reverse chronological order: Most ATS platforms expect this structure.
• Tailor your CV for every application: Generic CVs are a fast path to rejection.
• Avoid overstuffing keywords: ATS software can detect unnatural keyword padding — and so can recruiters.
• Use a standard font: Arial, Calibri, Cambria or Times New Roman.

Smart, structured, keyword-aware wording is the real “secret” to beating ATS filters.

---

Why Many Candidates Still Struggle

Even highly skilled professionals can be rejected by ATS if:

• the CV isn’t formatted correctly,
• key skills are missing,
• keywords don’t match the job ad,
• or achievements aren’t clearly articulated.

There is a genuine art and science to writing an ATS-friendly CV — and this is where professional help makes a measurable difference.

---

Want to Deep Dive into ATS?

We recommend watching our interview with Michael Osmond from JobAdder (one of Australia’s leading ATS providers). JobAdder processes more than 500,000 applications per week — so their insight into how ATS works is invaluable if you want to improve your chances.

---

Need Help Getting Your CV Past ATS?

If you’re not getting interviews — despite applying for roles you’re well suited for — your CV may be failing the ATS scan long before a recruiter reads it.

At CV Writers Australia, we specialise in:

• ATS-friendly resume writing
• Keyword optimisation based on your target industry
• Professional branding for government, private sector and executive roles
• LinkedIn optimisation to improve your visibility

Send your CV for a free review at info@cvwriters.com.au and we’ll assess exactly how to strengthen your document for better results.