What is an ATS, and how does a CV get through

An ATS is the software companies use to receive and sort applications, and it often reads your CV before a person does. An ATS-friendly CV has a simple layout and uses the job ad's own words.

What an ATS is

An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software companies use to post jobs, receive applications and sort them. When you apply through an online form, your CV often lands in the ATS first, and HR sees it through the ATS.

Large companies use them most. According to Jobscan, 487 of the 500 largest US companies use an ATS (source). There are no public figures for Georgia, but banks, international companies and large employers here use such systems more and more.

How an ATS reads your CV

  1. It pulls out the text: it reads the text in your file (PDF or Word) and splits it into sections: experience, education, skills.
  2. It looks for words: it compares your CV with the job's requirements: titles, skills, software, languages.
  3. It ranks: HR often sees the CVs that match the job best first, or filters out those missing a key word.

An ATS often doesn't "reject" anyone by itself, but if your CV doesn't show the job's words, it sinks to the bottom of the list where nobody may see it. In a Harvard Business School and Accenture study, 88% of employers said their systems screen out qualified candidates when a CV doesn't match the job exactly (source).

An ATS-friendly CV: the layout

Complex designs trip an ATS up the most. So:

  • One column. Text in two columns can get jumbled.
  • Plain section headings: "Work experience", "Education", "Skills". Not "My journey" or "What I do".
  • Text as text. Skills shown as pictures or icons may not be read.
  • Tables and boxes kept to a minimum.
  • Dates in one format: for example "03/2022 – 06/2025" throughout.
  • A PDF with real text. A scanned PDF, or one saved as an image, is blank to an ATS.

Vailo's three free designs are built exactly this way: CV templates.

An ATS-friendly CV: the words

The layout matters, but the words matter most. An ATS looks for the job ad's terms, so:

  • Use exactly the word the ad uses. If it says "1C", write "1C", not "accounting software".
  • Both forms where it helps: for example "SEO (search engine optimisation)".
  • A job title close to the ad's, if your real role was the same thing.
  • Words in context: "Ran Google Ads campaigns" beats "Google Ads" sitting alone in a skills list.

That's exactly what tailoring a CV means: how to tailor your CV to a job.

What doesn't work

  • White text on a white background, or the job ad pasted in invisibly. Modern systems notice, and if HR sees it, you're out.
  • A long list of keywords with no context. The ATS may let it through; the person reading won't.
  • Invented skills. A word gets you past the ATS, not past the interview.

How to check how well your CV matches a job

Free, in seconds: check your CV against a job. Or by hand: list every skill and requirement in the ad, then look for each one in your CV. Add whatever's missing that you really have.

Vailo does this for you: it compares the job with your experience, shows how many requirements you meet, and asks about anything missing before it writes your CV.

You might also be wondering

Do companies in Georgia use an ATS?

There are no public figures for Georgia, but banks, international and large companies use such systems more and more. At smaller companies a person often reads the CV, and a CV in the job's words helps either way.

Can an ATS read a CV in Georgian?

Modern systems usually read a text PDF in a standard Georgian font. The trouble comes from a CV saved as an image or scanned, tables, and text inside icons. If the job ad is in English, send your CV in English too.

How do I check if my CV will get through an ATS?

Copy the text out of your PDF: if it pastes in the right order, a system can read it too. To compare the words, use Vailo's free check: it compares your CV with the job ad and shows what's missing.

How to tailor your CV to a jobA tailored CV shows exactly what this employer is looking for: it answers the job's requirements with your real experience, in the job's own words. Both the ATS and the recruiter pick it far more often than one generic CV sent to every job.5 min read →How to write a CVA good CV is short, easy to read and shows in every line what you did and what came of it. Below, step by step: the sections, the wording, the length, and the mistakes that most often spoil a CV.4 min read →CV templatesA template decides how your CV looks, but the content is what gets you the job. Pick a design that suits the job and the company, then tailor what's in it to every job.2 min read →