CV & ATS Guide

What an applicant tracking system actually does, CV versus resume, how long a CV should be, keywords from the job posting, explaining gaps, fonts and layout, whether to add a photo, and the reverse-chronological format.

• What an applicant tracking system actually doesWhat applicant tracking systems really do with a CV file — parse, store, search — what they do not do, and the myths that cost people interviews.
• CV vs resumeCV or resume? Length, region (US and Canada resume, UK, Europe and Australia CV, academic CV) and what recruiters expect from each.
• How long should a CV be?One page or two, by experience level and region; what to cut when you run over; and how the app shows the page count while you type.
• Keywords from the job postingHow to mirror a job posting's wording honestly, hard versus soft skills, where keywords belong, and why stuffing or white text backfires.
• Explaining gaps in a CVHow to handle employment gaps on a CV: year-only dates, a one-line reason, how to present freelance, caring and study periods, and what not to do.
• CV format: fonts, layout and file typeWhy a single column, real text, standard headings and an embedded font parse best; date formats, file naming, and PDF versus DOCX.
• Should you put a photo on a CV?Whether a CV photo is expected, optional or unwelcome, country by country, and the anti-discrimination reasoning behind the difference.
• The reverse-chronological CVReverse-chronological versus functional and hybrid CVs, why the chronological format parses best, how to write experience bullets, and where education goes.

Hiring conventions differ by country and industry (for example on photos, age or personal details). This guide describes common practice and how the app formats a CV; it is not legal or HR advice, and no tool can guarantee that an applicant tracking system or a recruiter will accept a CV.