7 ATS Mistakes That Get Your CV Rejected (And How to Fix Them)

You’ve spent hours perfecting your CV, but it never seems to get past the initial screening. The culprit? Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) — the automated gatekeepers that filter out up to 75% of applications before a human ever sees them.

Here are the seven most common ATS mistakes and exactly how to fix each one.

1. Using Headers and Footers for Contact Details

Most ATS software cannot read content placed in document headers or footers. Your name, email, and phone number disappear entirely. Instead, place all contact information in the main body of your document, at the very top.

2. Fancy Formatting and Graphics

Tables, text boxes, columns, icons, and images confuse ATS parsers. They either scramble the content or skip it altogether. Stick to a single-column layout with standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Use bold and bullet points for structure — nothing more.

3. Missing Keywords from the Job Description

ATS systems score your CV based on keyword matches against the job description. If the posting asks for “stakeholder management” and you wrote “working with people,” the system won’t make the connection. Mirror the exact terminology used in the job listing — but only for skills you genuinely have.

4. Using the Wrong File Format

Some ATS platforms struggle with PDFs, while others can’t parse .docx files properly. Unless the job posting specifies a format, submit in .docx — it’s the most universally compatible format. If you do use PDF, ensure it’s text-based, not a scanned image.

5. Creative Job Titles

Your company may have called you a “Customer Happiness Ninja,” but the ATS is looking for “Customer Service Representative.” Use industry-standard job titles that match what recruiters search for. You can include the original title in parentheses if needed.

6. Spelling Out Acronyms (Or Not)

Different ATS systems search for different variations. The safest approach is to include both: “Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)” on first mention. This ensures you match regardless of which version the recruiter used in their search.

7. Ignoring the Skills Section

Many candidates bury their skills throughout their experience bullets, but ATS systems often look for a dedicated skills section. Create a clear “Skills” or “Technical Skills” section that lists your competencies as comma-separated keywords. This gives the parser an easy win.

The Bottom Line

Your CV might be brilliant, but if the ATS can’t read it, no human ever will. Focus on clean formatting, precise keywords, and standard structure. Tools like Believele can analyse any job description and generate an ATS-optimised CV tailored to the specific role — taking the guesswork out of the process entirely.