How to Write an ATS-Friendly CV

Do you know that about 90% of Fortune 500 companies use technologically advanced software to screen resumes during hiring? In today’s digitised job market, technology is gradually changing how organisations select the most suitable candidates from large talent pools. Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to find applicants who are excellent matches for specific jobs. Therefore, to optimise your chances of landing the latest job vacancies in Kenya, you must learn how to write an ATS-compliant CV.

What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

An ATS is a CV-scanning software that recruiters and employers use to manage the job application process. The system collects, sorts, scans, and ranks applications that organisations receive for open positions.

The ATS parses a CV’s contents and categorises it before scanning it for relevant keywords. The results of the keyword scan determine whether a job application will reach the recruiter’s desk. Applications without specific keywords in the job description do not pass the ATS keyword-scanning phase. This allows the recruiter to devote their time to evaluating top job candidates whose skills match specified job requirements.

Hence, candidates seeking the latest job vacancies in Kenya must submit ATS-compliant CVs to ensure that applicant tracking systems rank their resumes among the “best fit.” Failure to do so could cost you job opportunities regardless of your high qualifications.

Tips to Help You Write an ATS-Friendly CV

Review Your Job Description

Prepare to write your resume by reviewing the job description of the position you want to apply for. Read the description and highlight the relevant keywords, which may include industry terms, skills, licenses, technical expertise, specialised knowledge, and certifications.

You can leverage tools like ChatGPT and OpenAI to identify keywords in a job description. Visit the ChatGPT website, paste the job description and prompt the AI to find the keywords. Use these keywords to write an ATS-compliant CV.

Consider Using an ATS CV/Resume Template

You can write your ATS-compliant CV from scratch or use the various online templates. Generally, ATS-friendly resume templates use ATS-compatible minimalist designs. The latter allows the resume-scanning software to easily parse CV texts and extract valuable information, minimising the risk of keyword oversight that could cost you job opportunities. Examples of websites that offer free ATS-friendly CV templates are Jobscan, My Perfect Resume, and Novo Resume.

Nonetheless, if you choose to use a resume template to write your CV, you must note that not all online templates are ATS-friendly. Use the tips below to make your template ATS-compliant and optimise your chances of landing the latest job vacancies in Kenya.

Put the Job Title in Your Resume Headline

An ATS-compliant CV incorporates the job title of the desired position in its headline. A resume’s headline appears under the applicant’s name and contact information. Its purpose is to highlight your value as a job candidate. Your headline should be brief, relevant, and attention-grabbing.

For instance, if the job title for the position you are applying for is “Creative Designer/Promo Producer,” your ATS-compliant CV headline could read as:

 “Creative Designer with 10 Years of Experience” or

   “Versatile Promo Producer with 7 Years of Experience in the Media Industry” or

 “Creative Designer with 5 Years of Experience in Graphic Design and Advertising”

Putting the job title in your CV’s headline ensures that when the recruiter searches the ATS using the job title, your resume appears in the results, boosting your likelihood of landing the latest job vacancies in Kenya.

Label CV Sections Clearly

An ATS-compliant CV should have well-labelled sections, including “Professional Experience.” “Education” and ” Skills.” A resume is not a typical prose document. As such, you must divide it into distinct sections that allow recruiters and ATS to find details on your key qualifications. 

Align Your Qualifications with the Job Requirements

When writing the body of your CV, you should incorporate the keywords you identified when reviewing the job description. You must outline your hard and soft skills, work experience, educational qualifications, and industry expertise in a language similar to the one used in the job description. Ensure you capture all the descriptive keywords that match your qualifications to make your resume ATS-compliant.

Aligning your qualifications with job requirements can help you land the latest job vacancies in Kenya. It ensures your CV ranks among the top candidates when recruiters search the system using job-specific keywords. However, you should ALWAYS be honest about your qualifications, background, and abilities. Avoid adding unnecessary keywords for the sake of making an ATS-compliant CV.

Use Keywords Appropriately

A good ATS-friendly CV uses keywords sparingly and naturally. It is easy to read and understand and reflects an applicant’s honest ability to execute job tasks. That is why, when including role-specific terms listed on the job description in your CV, you must avoid overstuffing them. Instead, ensure the keywords are spread evenly throughout different sections of your resume, allowing them to appear as naturally as possible.

On the other hand, appropriate keyword use when creating an ATS-compliant CV entails using the exact keywords in the job description in your resume. Many applicant tracking systems can’t differentiate similar skills. Therefore, for your CV to rank highly on such an ATS, you must use keywords precisely as they appear in the job description. For example, if the job description requires a candidate with “graphic design experience,” you must include that specific phrase in your resume to increase its ATS compliance. Listing your graphic design roles alone will not guarantee ATS friendliness, which may reduce your chances of landing the latest job vacancies in Kenya.

Use ATS-Friendly Fonts and Formats

• Chronological Format

Most experts identify the chronological CV format as the most ATS-friendly. The chronological CV format requires you to list your work experience, starting with your most recent job, followed by the others you held before it in reverse chronological order. Each job listed in an ATS-compliant CV should include the company name and location, job title, start and end dates, and responsibilities and achievements.

• Dates

When writing dates in your CV, include the month and the year in the MM/YYYY format. For instance, July 2024. This date format increases the ATS-friendliness of your CV as opposed to only including the year.

•  Font

Your resume’s font impacts its ATS friendliness. As such, you should consider using the most commonly used fonts like Times New Roman, Calibri, Garamond, Helvetica, and Arial. These fonts look professional, and applicant tracking systems can read them easily. Use 11-12 pt. size font for normal text and 14-16 pt. for section headings to maximise your CV’s ATS compliance. Moreover, you can bold, italicise, or underline your CV fonts freely, provided the formatting choice remains consistent throughout the document.

•   Margins

Use 1-inch margins on all sides of your CV to minimise overcrowding and improve the document’s readability.

•  Bullets

You can use bullets freely when writing an ATS-compliant CV. However, stick to the standard circle or square bullets to maintain the document’s professionalism and maximise its ATS readability. Bullets are generally used to organise the information in a resume’s “Skills” section, making it easy to read and understand.  

•   Proofread

Once you finish writing your CV, proofread it to eliminate grammatical or formatting errors. As you proofread, ensure the resume’s sentence structure is simple and clear, making it easy for humans and applicant tracking systems to understand your data. Proofreading your CV maximises its ATS compliance.

• PDF or Word Document Format

An ATS-compliant CV should be submitted as a PDF or Word Document. The PDF format is an excellent choice because it preserves file data and document integrity. However, not all ATS can read PDF files. As a result, before you upload your CV to a job application portal, check the list of acceptable file formats. If the PDF format is not listed, upload your CV as a .doc or .docx file.

Run an ATS Check on Your CV Before Sending It

Before you send your CV to your prospective employer, you can run it through an ATS checker to assess its ATS compliance. For example, you can paste the information in your resume on a site like Jobscan, which will prompt you to paste the job description alongside the resume. Scanning the documents simultaneously will give you a result that shows how ATS-friendly your resume is. It also hints at how to improve your CV’s ATS compliance. Making the necessary adjustments before sending your resume to a potential employer can increase your chances of landing the latest job vacancies in Kenya.

Parting Shot

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are a new element of the modern job market that you must strive to understand to maintain and improve your competitive advantage in talent pools. Use this guide and the tools it suggests to write winning ATS-friendly CVs that will land you the latest job vacancies in Kenya!