CVs · 3 min read
What is an ATS CV checker, and how do you pass one?
Many UK employers and recruitment agencies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to collect and sort applications. An ATS CV checker shows you how your CV is likely to be read by that software before a person ever sees it.
What an ATS actually does
An ATS stores every application for a role, pulls out details such as job titles, dates, skills and qualifications, and lets recruiters search and filter candidates. If the system cannot read your CV properly, or cannot find the words a recruiter searches for, your application can slip down the list.
Common reasons CVs are misread
Most problems come from layout rather than experience:
- Text placed in tables, text boxes, headers or footers
- Key details saved as images or graphics
- Unusual section names instead of clear ones like 'Experience' and 'Education'
- Skill bars and icons instead of written skills
- Missing the exact terms used in the job advert
How to make your CV ATS-friendly
Keep it simple and clear:
- Use a single-column layout and a standard font
- Use plain section headings
- Write job titles, employers and dates consistently
- Mirror the wording of the job advert where it genuinely matches your experience
- Save as a PDF or DOCX, whichever the employer asks for
Check before you apply
hire me. reads your CV like a recruiter and an ATS would, scores it out of 100 and shows exactly what to fix — with every suggestion in British English.