If you've uploaded your CV to RecruitMyMom or applied for a job online, chances are your application has gone through an applicant tracking system (ATS).
ATS software scans your CV to assess whether it meets the requirements of a job posting. If your CV is not formatted in a way that an ATS can read and parse accurately, you may be automatically excluded before a human recruiter even gets to see your application.
Research shows that only 25% of CVs submitted online make it past the ATS and into the hands of a hiring manager. That means three of four CVs are discarded. For job-seeking moms at RecruitMyMom, avoiding this outcome is important.
So, how can you improve your recruitment chances? It starts with understanding how to structure your CV using headings and formatting that ATS software recognises:
Why CV Headings Matter
Applicant tracking systems use CV parsers, which are designed to detect and categorise information based on standardised headings. If your CV uses unusual labels, includes design elements like tables or columns, or places vital information in headers or footers, the system may fail to recognise key details.
The 8 CV Headings You Should Use
Below are headings that you should include in your CV. These are universally understood by parsers within ATS systems and help structure your CV in a way that enhances readability and searchability.
1) Contact Information
Include your name, mobile number, email address, and city. Avoid placing these details in headers or footers.
You can also include a LinkedIn profile and design portfolio link if it's relevant and up to date.
2) Professional Summary
This section is optional but helpful for highlighting alignment with the advertised job.
Add one to two sentences summarising your experience, skills and the value you will bring to the role.
Use relevant keywords from the job description - these are specific terms or phrases that highlight required skills, qualifications, tools, or experience (e.g. "project management", "data analysis", "customer support", or software like "Xero" or "Salesforce"). Including these can help your application get noticed by recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS).
If you are using an AI tool to assist you write your summary ensure you use UK English and not USA English and grammar.
For example: "Customer service specialist with five years of experience in financial services".
3) Skills
List hard and soft skills, plus software skills under separate headings.
List your relevant skills in a bulleted or comma-separated format. Include industry-specific and role-specific language used in the job description you are applying for.
For example: "Pastel Accounting, VAT Reconciliations, Deadline Management".
4) Work Experience
Use clear language and consistent formatting: Job Title, Employer, Location, and Dates (MM/YYYY format). List your responsibilities and achievements using bullet points. Focus on keywords and always highlight measurable results you have achieved.
For example: "Processed monthly payroll for 50 employees using Sage Payroll."
5) Education
Include the institution names, qualifications, and graduation years to show your qualifications. Add an "Additional courses completed" heading if you've completed additional short courses.
6) Achievements or Awards
If applicable, list key recognitions that demonstrate excellence or initiative in your past roles.
7) Languages (if relevant)
This is particularly useful in client-facing roles or multinational environments. Expand on whether they are written and spoken and your level of proficiency in each language.
8) Volunteer Work or Community Involvement
Optional, but Volunteer Work or Community Involvement can add depth to your CV, especially if it is relevant to the role or shows leadership and organisational skills.
The Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
- Formatting for ATS Compatibility
Avoid CV templates with graphics, tables, or columns. These design elements often confuse parsing software within ATS software.
Instead, use a simple, text-based layout in a standard font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, size 11–12pt. Keep line spacing consistent (1 to 1.15), left-align your content, and use standard bullet points.
Save your CV as a .docx file for the best parsing results, especially when uploading to platforms like RecruitMyMom. PDFs are acceptable only if they are simple and text-based - image-heavy or design-led PDFs will not parse correctly.
- Incorporating Keywords Strategically
Recruiters and ATS software search CV databases using keywords related to job titles, skills, industries, and tools. Always tailor your CV to each application by identifying keywords in the job description and naturally incorporating them into your headings and bullet points.
For example, if the job title is "Client Service Administrator – Wealth & Investment," your CV should include phrases like "client service," "wealth management," and "investment support" if they honestly reflect your experience.
Remember to use the full version and the acronym of a term. For instance, "Customer Relationship Management (CRM)" rather than just "CRM."
- Avoid These Common Pitfalls
- Do not use creative section names like "Where I've Worked" or "My Learning Journey." Stick to "Work Experience" and "Education."
- Do not insert tables or columns to organise information. Use bullet points instead.
- Do not place important details like contact information or headings inside a header or footer. ATS software often ignores these sections.
- Use plain job titles. You may have been the Customer Happiness Specialist, but it is far better to change the title to Customer Service Specialist, which is more broadly understood and used as a search term.
Check Your RecruitMyMom Profile After Uploading
After uploading your CV on RecruitMyMom or any other employment sites, always check your candidate profile by logging in through the candidate portal. Ensure that your education, experience, skills, and contact details have parsed correctly. Your CV didn't parse properly if the fields are incomplete or scrambled. You can update the fields manually - remember to save the changes. These fields are used to create a branded formatted CV of the recruitment company.
At RecruitMyMom, we want your skills to be noticed, and your CV is the starting point. Take time today to review your candidate profile on our website. Ensure it's simple, searchable, and ATS-friendly
