Most large companies run every CV through an applicant-tracking system (ATS) before a recruiter reads a word. If the software can't parse your file, you're filtered out — no matter how strong your experience is. Here's how to make sure that doesn't happen.
Use a single-column layout
Two-column and sidebar designs look great to humans but often confuse parsers, which read top-to-bottom. A clean single column keeps your content in the order the ATS expects. (All of MyCV.gg's ATS-safe templates are single-column for exactly this reason.)
Keep formatting simple
- Use standard section headings: Experience, Education, Skills.
- Avoid tables, text boxes, and images for important content — text inside them is often skipped.
- Stick to common fonts and real text, never text baked into a graphic.
Mirror the job description
ATS software ranks CVs by keyword relevance. Read the posting and use the same terms it does — if it says "project management," don't only write "led projects." Weave the exact phrases into your experience naturally.
Export as a clean PDF
A text-based PDF (not a scanned image) keeps your layout intact while staying machine-readable. Export from MyCV.gg and your PDF is selectable, parseable text every time.
The bottom line
Write for the parser first and the human second. A simple, keyword-aware, single-column CV gets past the filter — then your experience can do the talking.