How to Write an ATS-Friendly Resume (with a Free Builder)
How applicant tracking systems read your CV, the formatting that gets you filtered out, and a section-by-section guide for job seekers in the UAE, India and beyond.
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Most medium and large employers — and almost every recruitment agency in Dubai, Bengaluru and beyond — run applications through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a person sees them. If the ATS can't read your CV, a recruiter may never see it.
How an ATS reads your CV
The ATS extracts text, splits it into sections (experience, education, skills), and ranks candidates by how well they match the job's keywords and requirements. It struggles with:
- Text inside images or graphics
- Multi-column layouts that scramble reading order
- Headers and footers (often ignored)
- Unusual section names ("My Journey" instead of "Experience")
- Tables and text boxes in Word
Build one the easy way
The free Resume Builder produces real-text PDFs with standard headings and a single reading order. Fill in the sections, choose Classic, Modern or Minimal, and download a PDF — no signup, no watermark. Your draft is saved in your browser so you can come back to it.
Section by section
Contact details
Name, phone with country code (+971 / +91), professional email, city, LinkedIn. Skip your full home address.
Personal details (region-dependent)
In the GCC it's still common to add nationality, visa status, notice period and driving licence. In India, the UK and the US, leave out date of birth, marital status and photo.
Professional summary
Two or three sentences: who you are, your strongest results, what you're looking for. Mirror the job title you're applying for.
Experience
Most recent first. For each role, 3–5 bullets that start with a verb and include a number:
- ❌ "Responsible for accounts payable"
- ✅ "Processed 1,200+ supplier invoices a month across 14 stores with zero late-payment penalties"
Education and certifications
Degree, institution, year. Professional certifications (ACCA, CMA, PMP, AWS) often matter more than grades.
Skills
Match the job description's wording. If it says "UAE VAT" and "IFRS", use exactly those terms.
Length and format
- One page for under ~7 years' experience, two for senior roles.
- Standard fonts, 10–11 pt body text.
- Save as PDF unless the employer asks for Word.
- File name:
Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf.
Tailor every application
Adjust the summary and skills for each role. Ten tailored applications beat a hundred identical ones.
Upskilling for your next role?
Training providers use Pyalm Learn to run courses with quizzes, certificates and a built-in job board — so learners can earn a credential and apply for roles in one place.
Related free tools
Resume Builder | Certificate Generator | Image Cropper | Payslip Generator | All free tools