How to Convert Your CV to ATS Format (Without Starting From Scratch)

You have a beautifully designed CV that you made on Canva. It looks great, but every time you apply for a job, you get an automated rejection. The problem isn't your experience; it's that your CV is completely unreadable to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

The good news is you don't need to rewrite your entire career history. You just need to strip the design down to its bare bones. Here is exactly how to convert your current CV into an ATS-friendly format in about 15 minutes.

Step 1: Move Everything into a Single Column

If you have a sidebar for your skills and contact info, delete it. ATS parsers read from top to bottom, left to right. Two columns confuse the parser, causing it to mix your phone number with your job duties. Copy everything into a single, vertical Google Doc or Word document.

Step 2: Delete All Graphics and Tables

Remove your photo, logos of past employers, icons next to your phone number, and those visual progress bars you used to show your skill level. The ATS cannot read images; it will either ignore them or fail to parse the surrounding text.

Step 3: Standardize Your Section Headers

The ATS needs to know where your work history starts. If you named your sections "What I Do," "My Academic Journey," or "Core Competencies," change them immediately to:

• Experience
• Education
• Skills

Step 4: Use Standard Fonts and Bullet Points

Change your font to something universally readable like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Instead of using custom checkmarks or arrows for bullet points, use the standard round black dot.

Step 5: Verify the Conversion

Once you have stripped your resume down, you need to test if it worked. RoastMyCV allows you to upload your newly formatted document to get a free ATS score. We will show you exactly how our parser reads your file, ensuring no data gets scrambled before you send it to an employer.

Test Your New ATS Format

Don't guess if your conversion was successful.

Check your parser compatibility instantly.Upload your CV for a free ATS score at roastmycv.inand let Brutus verify that your new format is 100% machine-readable.