Most Australian employers screen applications with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) before a recruiter reads a single CV. If your resume isn't formatted for the software, it can be filtered out no matter how qualified you are. Here's how to beat the bots.
What is an ATS?
An ATS is software that parses your CV into structured data — name, skills, work history — and scores it against the job ad's keywords. Common platforms in Australia include PageUp, Workday, JobAdder, and SmartRecruiters. SEEK also runs its own candidate matching.
Why good candidates get filtered out
The ATS can't read what it can't parse. Columns, tables, text boxes, headers/footers, graphics, and Canva-style image layouts all break parsing. A beautiful CV that the ATS reads as gibberish scores near zero.
How to format an ATS-friendly resume
- Single column, no tables or text boxes.
- Standard fonts — Calibri, Arial, or Garamond, 10–12pt.
- Standard section headings: Professional Summary, Key Skills, Work Experience, Education, Referees.
- Save as a simple PDF or DOCX (no scanned images).
- Mirror the exact keywords from the job ad — ATS matching is literal, not semantic.
Keyword matching is literal
If the ad says "stakeholder management" and your CV says "managing stakeholders", a strict ATS may not match it. Use the ad's phrasing where it's honest to do so.
Not sure how your CV scores? Run a free ATS check to see your score and the exact issues — or read our guide to Australian resume format.