What are the best ATS-friendly CV templates for job applications?
The most reliable ATS-friendly CV templates use a clear structure, standard section headings, and text without graphics.
That lets applicant tracking systems (ATS), the software employers use to sort applications, read every line.
Resume.io designed its Simple ATS, Precision ATS, Header ATS, and Two column ATS templates around these rules.
In the UK, an ATS-friendly CV is the same document US sites call an ATS-friendly resume.
The four Resume.io designs differ in what each one puts first.
| Template | Puts first | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Simple ATS | A clean single-column layout | Most applications, especially through large employers’ online portals |
| Precision ATS | A highlighted skills section | Skills-led roles such as IT, trades, care, or engineering |
| Header ATS | A dedicated achievements section | Applicants with measurable results, such as sales or operations |
| Two column ATS | Skills alongside work history in a two-tone design | Experienced applicants who need to fit more onto two pages |
If you prefer a more traditional look, the Classic and Traditional designs also use a single column.
Save Two column ATS for when space is genuinely tight, since one column is the safer default for online portals.
Picking a template by what your CV needs to show first saves rework later.
Take a care assistant whose strongest selling points are skills such as moving and handling or medication administration.
They get more from Precision ATS than from a design that pushes skills to the bottom of page two.
Are there any free ATS-friendly CV templates available online?
Yes. Microsoft Word and Google Docs both include free CV templates, and Microsoft’s online library has an ATS collection.
Several online builders also offer free ATS-friendly designs.
Resume.io’s ATS templates are free to build with, and a premium subscription unlocks downloads of the designed PDF or Word files.
| Route | Cost | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Word’s built-in templates | Free with Word | Many use text boxes or tables, so choose a plain single-column design |
| Google Docs templates | Free with a Google account | Some layouts use two columns, so check before you start writing |
| Free online builders | Often free, though some ask you to sign up | Check whether the download is free or needs an upgrade |
| Resume.io | Free to build and export as text, premium for designed PDF or .docx files | The free text export keeps your content but not the design |
A free text export has one advantage people overlook.
A text file has no layout at all, so an applicant tracking system has nothing to misread.
If you want a designed file without paying, Word and Google Docs are good starting points, as long as you choose a single-column layout.
If you would rather have guidance for each section and move between designs without retyping your content, an AI CV builder takes care of the structure.
Do applicant tracking systems reject CVs automatically?
Usually not, as most applicant tracking systems store, sort, and search applications, and a recruiter decides who moves forward.
Automatic rejections normally come from screening questions in the application form, such as whether you have the right to work in the UK or hold a required licence.
They rarely come from your CV’s design.
What an ATS does with your CV affects your chances in three practical ways.
| What the ATS does | What it means for your CV |
|---|---|
| Reads your CV into fields such as name, job titles, and dates | A misread layout can show a recruiter a jumbled profile |
| Lets recruiters search applications by skill or job title | Missing the advert’s wording can keep your CV out of their results |
| Asks screening questions before or after upload | Wrong or rushed answers can end an application early |
This changes where your effort should go.
Many job seekers spend hours chasing a higher score from an online ATS scanner, but no single scoring standard exists across systems.
A CV that reads cleanly and uses the words from the advert does more for you than an extra few points on a scanner.
Can an ATS read a PDF CV?
Yes. Applicant tracking systems read text-based PDFs, which is what Word, Google Docs, and CV builders create when you save or download a PDF.
Problems start with scanned or image-only PDFs, where there is no text for the system to read.
Send a Word file instead when the advert or application portal asks for .doc or .docx.
| File type | Can an ATS read it? | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| PDF saved from Word or a CV builder | Yes, because the text is selectable | Your default choice unless the advert says otherwise |
| Scanned PDF or photo of your CV | No, because the system sees an image | Avoid for any online application |
| Word (.docx) | Yes | When the advert or a recruitment agency asks for it |
| Plain text (.txt) | Yes, without formatting | When a portal asks you to paste your CV |
To test a PDF before you upload it, open the file and try to highlight a single sentence.
If you can select individual words, an ATS can read them.
If nothing highlights, or the page selects as one picture, save the file again from the original document.
Which CV design features confuse an ATS?
Text boxes, tables, multiple columns, icons, and contact details placed in the page header or footer are the features most likely to confuse an ATS.
Some systems skip these areas or read them out of order.
A recruiter may then see your job titles mixed with your skills, or no phone number at all.
| Feature | What can go wrong | Safer choice |
|---|---|---|
| Two or more columns | Older systems read across the page line by line, merging columns | One column, or a two-column design made for ATS |
| Text boxes and tables | Text can be skipped or read out of order | Normal paragraphs and bullet points |
| Contact details in the header or footer | Some systems ignore these areas | Name, phone, and email at the top of the main page |
| Icons, photos, and skill bars | None of them contain readable text | Write skills as words; UK CVs leave out photos |
| Unusual fonts | Characters may not convert correctly | Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman |
Design itself is not the problem.
Colour in a heading, a bold name, and clear spacing are all fine, because they sit on top of normal text.
Trouble starts when the design holds the text, as a box, graphic, or table cell does.
That is why a simple design is the safest choice for online applications.
If you like our creative, modern, or professional designs, check each one against this table before using it for a portal application.
Which sections should an ATS-friendly CV include?
An ATS-friendly CV should include a header with your contact details, a personal statement, work experience, skills, and education, each under a standard heading.
Applicant tracking systems look for these familiar labels to sort your information into the right fields.
A creative heading such as “My journey” can leave your experience unrecognised.
- CV header: Your name, phone number, email address, and town
- Personal statement: Three or four lines on who you are and what you offer, also called a CV summary or profile
- Work experience: Your roles in reverse-chronological format, most recent first
- Skills: The abilities the job advert asks for, written as words
- Education: Qualifications, where you studied, and dates
- Certifications or training: Licences and courses, if they are relevant to the role
Keep this order unless you have a clear reason to change it.
School leavers and graduates can move education above work experience, and career changers can use a skills-based CV.
In both cases, keep the standard headings so the system still recognises each section.
How do I check if my CV is ATS-friendly?
To check if your CV is ATS-friendly, copy all its text into a plain text editor and see whether it still reads in the right order.
Then compare your wording with the job advert, and run the file through a CV checker for a second opinion before you apply.
- Run the plain-text test: Select everything in your CV, copy it, and paste it into Notepad or TextEdit. If every section appears in order with nothing missing, a parser is likely to read it correctly.
- Match the advert’s wording: List the skills, qualifications, and job title in the advert, and use the same keywords where they are true for you. The National Careers Service advises highlighting the skills an employer has asked for.
- Check job titles and dates: Write each role as job title, employer, and dates in the same order every time, using one date format throughout.
- Get a second opinion: Upload your CV to the Resume.io CV checker for feedback before you send it.
Resume.io career coach Amanda Augustine (CPCC, CPRW) links keywords to the opening of the CV: “Optimise your CV’s content with key terms and phrases found in the job advert, and include a strong personal statement to help employers quickly understand why you are a good fit for the role.”
Repeat the check for every application rather than once.
Each advert uses different wording, so a CV that matched last month’s role may miss terms that matter for this one.
Key tips
- Pick an ATS template by what your CV needs to show first, whether that is skills, achievements, or a long work history.
- Put your contact details in the main body of the page, never in the header or footer.
- An ATS can read a PDF saved from Word or a CV builder, but not a scanned PDF.
- Use the job advert’s own wording for skills you genuinely have.
- People and screening questions decide most outcomes, so focus on a clear, relevant CV rather than a scanner score.
FAQs
These are the questions people ask most often about ATS-friendly CVs.
What does ATS-friendly mean on a CV?
An ATS-friendly CV is one that applicant tracking software can read accurately. It uses standard headings, plain text without graphics, and a simple structure, so the system can sort your details into the right fields for a recruiter to review.
Is a two-column CV ATS-friendly?
It can be, but a single column is safer. Some older applicant tracking systems read across the page line by line, which can merge two columns into one jumbled block. Use a two-column design only if its maker built it for ATS, and test it with a plain-text copy first.
Are Resume.io ATS CV templates free?
Yes, to build with. You can create your CV in any Resume.io ATS template with a free account and export it as a plain text file. Downloading the designed version as a PDF or Word file needs a premium subscription.
