ATS friendly CV
A single column of plain, real text with ordinary headings, laid out so that software reads it in the order a person would. No columns to scramble, no graphics standing in for words.
Everything on this page stays in your browser. Your CV is autosaved on this device only, and the Save data button gives you a file backup; nothing is ever uploaded.
How to write it
- The ATS template is already selected: one column, ordinary headings, nothing decorative.
- Fill in your details on the left. Leave a section empty and it disappears from the page rather than sitting there half filled.
- Reorder the sections and the entries by dragging them, so the strongest thing you have comes first.
- Click Download PDF and choose Save as PDF in the print dialog.
Frequently asked questions
What actually breaks in an applicant tracking system?
Text that is really an image, headings the software does not recognise, tables and multi column layouts read in the wrong order, and important words that appear only in a graphic. This template avoids all four. What it cannot do is guess the words a particular employer is scanning for; those come from the job advert and you have to put them in yourself.
How long should it be?
Two pages is the normal ceiling for a CV in most of Europe, and one page is the norm for a resume in the United States. Academia is the exception and runs as long as the record does. If you are over the limit, cut the oldest roles down to a line each rather than shrinking the type.
Which sections do I actually need?
Contact details, a short summary, experience, education and skills carry almost every application. Everything else, projects, publications, languages, volunteering, awards, earns its place only if it is relevant to the job in front of you. Anything you leave empty is dropped from the page.
Will an applicant tracking system read it?
An applicant tracking system reads the text, not the picture. Every template here is real selectable text rather than an image, so the words can always be read, but a two column layout can be read out of order by older software. If the employer is large or the application goes through a portal, the ATS template is the safe one: one column, ordinary headings, nothing decorative.
Is it really free?
Yes. No sign-up, no trial, no watermark, no paying at the download step, and no limit on how many versions you make. The site is paid for by ads.
A CV for a particular moment
Other looks
More free tools: CV Builder