Applications
Check whether recruitment software can read your CV
An applicant tracking system may store documents, extract information or support recruiter searches. Employers configure these systems differently. Your practical goal is to preserve the meaning and order of your career information across the file and the application form.
Editorial review: 16 October 2026
Use a predictable structure
Start with clear headings such as Experience, Education and Languages. Keep job titles, employers and dates together. A simple single-column layout is a useful default. Put essential contact details in ordinary text rather than only in graphics or page headers. Use the terminology of the vacancy where it accurately describes your experience; explain an unfamiliar internal job title.
Perform a real extraction test
Export the file in the format requested by the employer. SECO recommends PDFs for application documents, while a particular portal may request another format. Select and copy the text into a plain-text editor. Check the reading order, dates, accented letters and bullet points. A scanned image requires usable text recognition. Inspect any preview and automatically populated fields in the portal, correcting misplaced employers or incomplete qualifications before submission.
Protect the quality of the content
Describe actual tasks and results using natural language. Hidden keywords, invented qualifications and inflated language levels create discrepancies during review. Keep an editable original and a record of the version submitted. If extraction fails, simplify the layout and repeat the test. Use this check to verify readability and preserve the information the recruiter will assess against the vacancy's requirements. A recruiter should also be able to understand the same document quickly on screen.