Understanding ATS (Applicant Tracking System) in Multinational Companies

Understanding ATS (Applicant Tracking System) in Multinational Companies

How ATS Works:
When you apply online, your CV doesn't go straight to HR - it first enters the ATS system, which scans and ranks it based on:

The ATS assigns each CV a matching score, and only the highest-ranked CVs proceed to the recruiter's review. This saves HR time by focusing only on the best-matched candidates.

Why Optimize Your CV for ATS?
Since ATS handles the first elimination round, your CV must be properly formatted to:

Key Adjustments to Pass ATS:

Key Improvements:

Many job applicants, especially those applying to multinational corporations, face rejections due to ATS (Applicant Tracking System). This is software used by multinational companies (and some local firms) to automatically filter CVs, eliminating 80-90% of applications. For example, if 1,000 CVs are submitted, only about 100 might pass the initial screening.

Relevance to the Job Description (JD)

Alignment with the listed requirements (partially mentioned in the job posting)

Avoid automatic rejection (due to incompatible file types or missing keywords)

Maximize keyword matches with the job description (without keyword stuffing)

File Format: Use PDF (unless specified otherwise)

Keywords: Include terms from the job description

Structure: Avoid tables, headers/footers or graphics

Fonts: Use standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman

Skills: List hard skills explicitly (e.g. "Python", not just "tech skills")

Removed all problematic formatting

Used clean, consistent bullet points

Maintained all technical terms (ATS, JD, etc.)

Kept the original meaning while improving readability

Organized content into clear sections