ATS-Friendly CV Template
Prioritise conventional headings, selectable text, clear chronology, and evidence-led bullets without claiming that any layout can guarantee an ATS result. Built for applicants who want a text-first document that is easy for parsers and humans to scan.
Tailor this template to a jobWhat makes a good ats-friendly cv template
A useful template makes relevant evidence easy to find and uses obvious placeholders rather than fabricated personal claims.
Suggested CV structure and example snippets
Contact heading
Use a clear text heading with the contact details an employer needs. Do not include a photo, full street address, age, or protected characteristics unless local practice explicitly requires them.
Placeholder: Your Name · City, Country · your.email@example.com · +00 0000 000000 · linkedin.com/in/your-name
Professional profile
Write a short, role-specific introduction supported by the experience below. Replace every bracketed prompt with your own facts.
Placeholder: [Target role] with [relevant scope] and strengths in [two or three requirements supported below]. Delivered [credible, relevant outcome].
Work experience
Use reverse chronology. Each bullet should make the action, context, and result easy to understand without copying claims that belong to someone else.
Placeholder: Job Title, Company Name — [Dates] · [Action] using [skill or method], resulting in [scope, quality, speed, cost, or customer outcome].
Skills
Group relevant capabilities in plain text and support the important ones in experience, projects, placements, or education.
Placeholder: Skills: [group by domain] · Tools: [plain-text names] · Certifications: [exact title, issuer, status]
Formatting rules
Use a readable font, consistent dates, simple bullets, and enough white space. Avoid essential information in headers, footers, images, charts, or decorative text boxes.
Placeholder: Recommended headings: Profile · Experience · Skills · Projects · Education · Certifications
Education and qualifications
List the qualification, institution, location where useful, and completion date or expected date. Include grades only when relevant or requested.
Placeholder: [Qualification], [Institution Name] — [Completion year or expected date]
Common mistakes
- Keyword blocks with no evidence
- Image-only contact information
- Unclear section labels
- Tiny fonts and dense columns
ATS checklist
- Use selectable text
- Use conventional headings
- Avoid rating charts
- Check the exported PDF
- Compare with one real job description
How to tailor this template with DoCV
Complete the baseline with your own facts, paste the target vacancy into DoCV, review important evidence gaps, adjust relevant sections, and verify every final claim.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use this ats-friendly cv template?
Use the structure as a starting point, replace every placeholder and sample claim with your own evidence, then tailor the finished document to the actual job description.
Can I copy the example text?
Copy the pattern, not the facts. Invented employers, results, skills, or qualifications can damage an application and create problems in screening or interview stages.
Is this template ATS friendly?
The recommended structure uses conventional headings and text-first content. Final readability still depends on your export, font size, spacing, columns, tables, and the employer's system.
Should I tailor the template for each application?
Yes. Keep one accurate baseline, then adjust the profile, skills order, project selection, and emphasis of relevant bullets for serious applications.
Should the CV be one or two pages?
Use the shortest length that shows the required evidence clearly. One page can suit early-career applicants; two pages are common for experienced candidates, especially in the UK.
Does DoCV guarantee that this template passes ATS?
No. No independent template can guarantee an employer's screening result. DoCV helps with alignment and readability, but private configurations and hiring decisions vary.