How to Make Your CV Optimised for a Traditional Keyword Search ATS

How to Check If a Resume Is Traditional ATS-Friendly: At a Glance

Before diving deeper, it helps to understand what a traditional ATS expects at a high level. These systems are rigid and mechanical. They reward predictable structure and exact keyword matches, and they penalise creativity.

Formatting should follow a single-column layout with a plain text flow. Tables, columns, and text boxes often break parsing and should be avoided. File type matters as well. Submitting a .docx file is usually safest unless the employer explicitly requests a PDF. Keywords must mirror the job description exactly. Synonyms alone are not enough for legacy systems. Structure should rely on standard section headings rather than creative labels, and testing should always involve a plain text check rather than visual inspection alone.

What Is a Traditional ATS?

A traditional Applicant Tracking System functions like a resume search engine rather than an evaluator. When you submit your application, the system removes formatting, extracts raw text, scans for exact keyword matches, assigns a match score, and filters out resumes that score too low.

These systems do not understand meaning or intent. They do not infer skill equivalence, and they do not evaluate writing quality. If a keyword does not appear verbatim in your resume, the system treats that skill as missing, even if your experience clearly demonstrates it.

This is why learning how to check if your resume is ATS-friendly begins with understanding how mechanically these systems operate. Optimisation is not about sounding impressive. It is about being readable to a rules-based parser.

The 2-Minute Manual ATS Check: Step-by-Step

This test simulates how a traditional ATS reads your resume by stripping it down to raw text. It is one of the fastest ways to identify serious compatibility issues.

Step 1: Open Your Resume

Start with your final resume file, ideally in .docx format, though PDFs can also be tested.

Step 2: Save as Plain Text (.txt)

Use File, then Save As, and select Plain Text (.txt). This removes all visual formatting and exposes the underlying structure.

Step 3: Open the .txt File

Open the newly created file. What you see here closely resembles what the ATS processes internally.

Step 4: Review the Output

Scan the text carefully. Look for missing content, jumbled sections, incorrect ordering, broken bullets, or lost job titles and dates. If the output feels unreadable or disorganised, the ATS will struggle to parse it correctly.

How to Interpret Your Plain Text Output

A clean plain text file is a strong indicator of ATS compatibility.

What a Good Result Looks Like

A good result shows clear section headings, a logical top-to-bottom flow, and complete job titles, dates, and skills. Bullet points should appear as simple characters like asterisks or hyphens. The content should remain understandable even without formatting.

Red Flags to Watch For

Problems arise when contact information disappears because it was stored in headers, or when content from columns merges into unreadable text. Garbled symbols often indicate unsupported fonts or icons. If job titles separate from company names or entire sections vanish, the resume needs immediate reformatting.

Keyword-Optimised Resume Best Practices

Optimising for a traditional ATS is about predictability and repetition rather than creativity.

Use a Single-Column Layout

Traditional ATS software reads resumes from top to bottom and left to right. Anything outside this flow may be ignored. Columns, tables, text boxes, headers, footers, graphics, and icons should be avoided entirely.

Use Standard Fonts

Stick to widely supported fonts such as Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Verdana, Times New Roman, or Georgia. Decorative or custom fonts increase the risk of parsing errors.

Use Standard Section Headings

ATS systems look for expected labels to classify information. Use headings like Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications, and Projects. Creative alternatives reduce parsing accuracy.

Insert Exact Keywords From the Job Description

If the job description uses phrases like Project Management, Stakeholder Management, or Salesforce CRM, your resume must include those exact terms. Paraphrasing and semantic equivalents do not work reliably with older ATS systems.

Repeat Critical Keywords Across Sections

Repetition improves match scores. Important keywords should appear in your summary, skills section, and experience descriptions, provided they reflect real experience.

Add a Dedicated Keyword Block

Including a Core Competencies or Technical Skills section allows you to list relevant keywords cleanly and honestly. This increases keyword density without misrepresentation.

Match Job Titles When Accurate

If your internal job title was unconventional, clarify it. For example, listing Product Manager followed by the internal title maintains honesty while aligning with ATS search logic.

Format Dates and Titles Clearly

Use full month and year formats such as September 2023 to December 2025. Place job titles and company names on separate lines to prevent parsing errors.

Common Resume Mistakes That Trigger ATS Rejection

Certain mistakes consistently cause automatic filtering. These include placing contact information in headers, using Canva or column-based templates, adding icons or skill bars, relying only on creative job titles, omitting job description terminology, and submitting the wrong file format.

How to Extract Keywords Correctly

Start by copying the full job description. Identify skills, tools, certifications, job titles, and responsibilities. Use the exact wording provided. Add these keywords naturally into your summary, skills, and experience sections.

Where relevant, include both the full term and the acronym, such as Search Engine Optimisation followed by SEO. This improves coverage without keyword stuffing.

Tools for Legacy ATS Optimisation

Tools like Jobscan, ResumeWorded, and SkillSyncer simulate keyword matching and can help diagnose gaps. These tools are most useful when applying through traditional ATS systems.

Why Modern Platforms Like Navero Do Not Require This

Navero does not rely on keyword density or mechanical parsing. The platform uses modern AI to analyse skills, experience, context, and capability. Keyword flooding is unnecessary on Navero.

This guide exists because many employers still rely on outdated ATS systems. Navero does not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to tailor my resume for each job?

Yes. Keywords must match each job description to pass traditional ATS filters.

Is a two-page resume acceptable?

Yes. Resume length does not affect keyword-based ATS systems.

Can I use colour?

Colour is ignored by ATS software and should not be used to convey meaning.

Should I submit a PDF?

Only if explicitly requested. Otherwise, submit a .docx file.Only if explicitly requested. Otherwise, submit a .docx file.

Is adding keywords to match an ATS dishonest?

No, as long as every keyword accurately reflects your real experience.