A study by Jobscan found that 75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before any human sees them. That means most applicants — even qualified ones — lose the opportunity before it begins. The solution isn't writing more achievements — it's writing a CV in a way the system "understands" first, then humans.
What Is an ATS and Why Should You Care?
ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software companies use to manage job applications. When you apply for a job, your CV passes through the ATS first, which:
1. Decodes your file (PDF or Word)
2. Extracts data (name, experience, skills…)
3. Matches it against the job posting's requirements
4. Gives you a "match score"
5. Ranks CVs from highest to lowest, and sometimes automatically rejects CVs below a certain threshold
Major companies in Saudi Arabia (Aramco, STC, SABIC, banks) and every company using platforms like Workday, Taleo, or Lever — all of them use ATS.
The Golden Rule: Simplicity Over Beauty
The biggest mistake candidates make is using "design" templates full of columns, tables, and icons. These templates look beautiful to the eye but are a nightmare for ATS:
- Columns: ATS reads them left-to-right incorrectly, scrambling the data
- Tables: most ATS systems don't read them at all
- Graphics and images: completely ignored
- Fancy fonts: may be converted to unreadable characters
The rule: An ATS-friendly CV = simple file, single font, single column, Word or "text-based" PDF (not an image).
The Correct Template: 7 Sections You Must Include
1. Contact Information (at the top)
- Full name (in English if the CV is in English)
- Mobile number (with country code)
- Professional email (avoid unusual usernames)
- LinkedIn URL (not optional in 2026)
- City (no need for full address)
2. Professional Summary
2–4 sentences summarizing: who you are, your experience, your specialty, and your top achievement. Example:
"Certified accountant with 6 years of experience in the Saudi banking sector, specialized in financial compliance under IFRS standards. Led a team of 4 accountants and saved SAR 1.2 million annually through improved internal audit processes."
3. Professional Experience (the most important)
List from most recent to oldest. For each role:
- Job title
- Company name
- Duration (month/year to month/year)
- City
- 3–5 bullet points describing achievements (not duties)
The difference between duties and achievements:
- ❌ Duty: "Responsible for managing the sales team"
- ✅ Achievement: "Led a team of 8 employees and achieved a 32% increase in annual sales, exceeding the target by 15%"
Every achievement should begin with a strong verb (Achieved, Led, Built, Improved) and include a number whenever possible.
4. Education
- Degree (Bachelor's, Master's…)
- Major
- University
- Graduation year
- GPA (if above 4.0/5.0 or 3.5/4.0)
5. Skills
Divide into:
- Technical: SAP, Excel, Power BI, AutoCAD…
- Soft: Leadership, Communication, Problem-Solving…
- Languages: Arabic (native), English (advanced), etc.
6. Certifications
Any accredited certification (PMP, CFA, CPA, CMA, CCNA…) with issuing body and date.
7. Additional Achievements (optional)
Awards, patents, volunteer activities, professional association memberships.
Keywords: The Strongest Weapon
ATS searches for specific words in your CV that match the job posting. Success strategy:
1. Read the job posting carefully
2. Identify recurring keywords (skills, tools, job titles)
3. Use them in your CV naturally — not as a list, but within your achievements
Example: If the posting mentions "Power BI" 4 times, your CV should mention it at least 2–3 times in different contexts.
💡 Note: Do not stuff keywords artificially. Modern ATS detects this and lowers your ranking.
Fatal Mistakes to Avoid
1. Using a personal photo — outside the Saudi/Gulf context it's considered unprofessional, and even locally, ATS ignores it
2. A CV longer than two pages — even with 20 years of experience
3. Excessive personal information (marital status, nationality, date of birth) — unnecessary and may expose you to unconscious bias
4. Using pronouns ("I did…") — write in active voice without pronouns
5. Spelling errors — even one mistake can cost you the job. Use Grammarly or Word for proofreading
6. Not updating LinkedIn to match — recruiters check LinkedIn, and discrepancies raise red flags
Final Formatting
- Font: Calibri, Arial, or Helvetica (size 10–12 for body, 14–16 for headings)
- Margins: 1.5–2.5 cm on all sides
- Spacing: 1.15 line spacing, 6pt before/after paragraphs
- Color: black only for text, dark blue or dark gray for headings (avoid bright colors)
- Format: DOCX (best for ATS) or text-based PDF (not an image)
The Last Step: Test Your CV Before Applying
Before sending your CV for any job, test it with a free ATS analysis tool. This gives you:
- Match rate with the job posting
- Missing keywords
- Suggestions for improving each section
- A full formatting assessment
Five minutes of testing can save you weeks of waiting without a reply.