Why 75% of CVs Never Get Read (And How to Fix Yours)

Why 75% of CVs Never Get Read (And How to Fix Yours)

You spend two hours crafting the perfect CV. You hit submit. Silence.

What you probably don't know is that at most companies with more than 50 employees, your CV was processed by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) — and it likely never reached a human.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: 75% of CVs are eliminated by ATS before a human sees them. And most candidates have no idea this is happening.

How ATS Systems Actually Work

An ATS is software that:

1. Parses your CV — extracts text from your document
2. Scores it — matches your content against required keywords and qualifications
3. Ranks it — places you in a queue against other candidates
4. Filters it — only the top-scoring CVs reach the recruiter's inbox

The cutoff varies, but many companies only review CVs scoring above 70-80% match.

The 7 Most Common ATS Killers

1. Wrong File Format

PDFs can confuse older ATS parsers. When in doubt, submit a clean .docx file. (Arbeitly exports both.)

2. Tables and Columns

Multi-column layouts look great to humans but ATS parsers read left to right, scrambling your content. Use single-column formatting.

3. Headers and Footers

Content in headers/footers is often ignored by parsers. Keep contact info in the main body.

4. Images and Icons

That LinkedIn icon next to your profile URL? The ATS sees blank space.

5. Missing Keywords

This is the biggest one. If the job description mentions "Scrum," "Python," and "stakeholder management" and your CV uses "Agile," "coding," and "client liaison," you'll score poorly — even if they mean the same thing.

6. Vague Bullet Points

"Managed projects" tells an ATS nothing. "Led 8-person Scrum team, delivering 3 product releases on schedule" gives it signals it can parse.

7. Non-Standard Section Headings

"Where I've Worked" as a section heading confuses parsers. Use standard headings: Experience, Education, Skills.

The ATS Optimization Checklist

• Use keywords from the job description verbatim
• Single-column layout
• Standard section headings
• No tables, text boxes, or columns
• Quantify achievements with numbers
• Include both acronyms and full terms (e.g., "SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)")
• Check your ATS score before submitting

Arbeitly's ATS Analysis Feature

Arbeitly's built-in ATS analyzer scores your CV against any job description before you apply. It highlights:

• Missing keywords (critical, important, nice-to-have)
• Formatting issues that could confuse parsers
• Sections that need strengthening
• Your overall match percentage

Available on Pro and higher plans. Start your free trial →