Whether you’re just starting your career, switching industries, or aiming to progress, knowing how to craft a CV that gets past the applicant tracking systems (ATS) is a skill in itself.

In today’s job market, it’s not just about impressing the hiring managers, it’s about making sure that your CV makes it to them in the first place.

What are applicant tracking systems (ATS)?

Applicant tracking systems are usually used by companies or recruiters to help them filter through large volumes of job applicants. This is especially common in popular or competitive industries like finance. Therefore, if your CV doesn’t meet specific criteria, it may never be seen by a human.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to beating the ATS, and each system and job vacancy will be different. However, these tips will help you get the best chance at beating the ATS algorithms so that the real decision-makers can view your application.

Understand how ATS works

ATS software scans CVs for keywords that match the job description, focusing on hard and soft skills, qualifications, and relevant experience. To get noticed, your CV needs to reflect the language used in the job posting.

It can be a little frustrating as the system essentially sees your CV in 'black and white' - you either meet the criteria, or you don’t. While in reality, we’re all much more complex professionals with unique experiences, knowledge, and motivations.

Nevertheless, it’s still crucial to tailor your CV to include the right keywords. First, make sure you highlight your qualifications, software proficiencies, or relevant roles that could be flagged on the ATS.

For example:

• Qualifications may include AAT, ACCA, or CIMA.
• Software may include Sage, Xero, or Microsoft Excel.
• Relevant job roles could be auditor, tax consultant, or accounts payable.

Tailor your CV to the job description

Each job is unique, and so should your CV. One of the biggest mistakes applicants make is using the same CV for every role they apply for. Review the job description closely and identify the key requirements so you can be sure that you have included them in your CV.

This includes:

• Technical skills - look at the job description to see if any hard skills have been mentioned. For example, ‘financial modelling,’ ‘audit preparation,’ or ‘budget analysis’ could all be keywords.
• Work experience - simple phrases like ‘client-facing,’ or ‘accounts payable,’ could make a huge difference if they are relevant to the role.
• Qualifications - if you’re required to have a specific qualification, ensure that you make this evident on your CV. Write your qualifications out in full.

For example, don’t write that you have ‘studied AAT.’ There are many other ways you can display this and meet the keyword requirements. Instead, you can write:

AAT Qualification (Association of Accounting Technicians)

You may even wish to add that you completed all levels and name each level in the full AAT qualification that you studied. For example:

AAT Qualification (Association of Accounting Technicians)

Completed all levels: AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting, AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting, AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting.

There’s no harm in adding any specific modules, skills, or topics learnt during your studies as long as they are relevant to the vacancy. However, always ensure that these words are naturally incorporated into your CV.

Use industry-specific terminology

If you’re applying for a role in a specialised field, such as auditing, tax, or financial analysis, make sure you use the industry-specific terminology that recruiters and ATS will be looking for.

For example:

• In a tax role, ensure that you mention terms such as ‘VAT returns,’ ‘corporate tax compliance,’ or ‘personal tax,’ where relevant and necessary.
• In financial analysis, keywords could include ‘financial forecasting’, ‘variance analysis’, or ‘data reconciliation.’

A great way to find similar keywords in this area is by looking at multiple job descriptions for similar roles and seeing what terms frequently pop up. These could be prioritised by ATS even if they’re not highlighted in the description.

Remember that if this is your first job or you’re not familiar with the terminology, don’t force it. It’s always best to be honest about your experience and only use phrases that you know are relevant to both your existing knowledge and the job requirements.

Balancing between hard and soft skills

Never underestimate the value of soft skills. Hiring managers are not just looking for you to manage a balance sheet, they want you to be someone who can communicate effectively and solve problems.

As an accountant, you likely spend a lot of time presenting data or statistics to other professionals who don’t understand. It’s crucial to have the ability to communicate with others, get creative, and be a good storyteller to help you excel in the role. But simply using terms like ‘communication’ isn’t going to work.

Go beyond listing words and demonstrate your skills through your personal experience. For example (remember these need to be personal for you):

• Communication skills: regularly liaise with key clients to explain complex financial data which leads to actionable insights.
• Team player: collaborating with other departments to ensure timely month-end close processes.
• Problem-solving: previously identified an error in payroll processing leading to a system update that saved the business £50,000 a year.
• Time management: consistently meeting or exceeding deadlines without sacrificing accuracy.
• Adaptability: adapted to a new software after a company-wide systems overhaul.

Alternatively, if you’re new to the world of work, a few examples could include:

• Adaptability: stayed on top of my work despite remote learning during the pandemic and using new online platforms.
• Problem-solving: identified an issue during a business project at sixth form. With the initial forecasts suggesting an alternative approach, I helped the team meet the project deadline with great accuracy.

Following this technique ensures that you have clearly stated the soft skills you think are relevant (which should help beat ATS), but you’ve also shown that you understand why these are valuable and how you have previously applied or developed them.

Avoid keyword stuffing

You might think adding as many keywords as possible will help you rank higher in the ATS. But overloading your CV with keywords could work against you. Many ATS are programmed to spot this tactic, and it will make your CV look unnatural to anyone who does read it.

Prioritise quality over quantity. Use your keywords naturally where they fit, particularly in your job responsibilities, education, and achievements. A well-balanced CV will appeal to both ATS and humans.

Format matters - keep it simple

A common mistake is prioritising the aesthetic of your CV over the practicality. Many ATS struggle with complex CV formats so you must stick to a clean and simple structure. Avoid using overly elaborate templates, graphics, or tables that could confuse the section.

Tips:

• Use standard section headings such as ‘work experience,’ ‘education,’ and ‘skills.’
• Avoid images, logos and fancy fonts - sans-serif fonts will always pay off whether this is read by a human or a system.
• Save your CV as a Word document or PDF - check the job description in case they have requested a specific format.

Leverage action verbs and metrics

Action verbs help to create a dynamic CV that demonstrates your impact. Words such as ‘analysed’, ‘developed’, and ‘implemented’, will make a stronger impression on recruiters and ATS.

Where possible, back up your achievements with measurable results (especially when applying for a finance role).

For example:

• “Managed a portfolio of over 50 clients, increasing revenue by 15% over 12 months.”
• “Led the implementation of a new payroll system, reducing errors by 22%.”

Update your LinkedIn to match your CV

A lot of recruiters will cross-check your LinkedIn profile with your CV. Use your profile as an extended version of your CV, where you can provide more detailed examples of your achievements.

Final tip: be authentic

While it’s important to try and beat the ATS and use the correct keywords, don’t lose sight of making your CV an authentic reflection of yourself. Balance your technical knowledge with your soft skills and show why you’d be a great addition to any team.

By carefully selecting the right keywords, aligning your CV with job descriptions, and presenting your experiences clearly, you’ll increase your chances of beating the ATS, impressing an employer, and landing your next role in finance.

Interested in an apprenticeship?

If you think an apprenticeship might be the right fit for you, have a look at our apprenticeship programmes to see if there’s one that would suit you. If you’re already employed, find out more about how to discuss starting an apprenticeship with your employer.

Employers can also learn more about our apprenticeship offerings by contacting our team for further details.