How to Stop Your CV Getting Ghosted by Bots

You’ve found the perfect job on Seek or LinkedIn, hit “apply now” and then silence.
No call. No email. Nothing.

Before you blame bad luck, here’s the real culprit: the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) — a robot recruiter that scans your CV before a human ever sees it.

The good news? You can outsmart the bots and still impress the people. Here’s how:

1. Speak Robot
Bots are picky and they want exact matches to the job ad to shortlist candidates.
•    If the ad says “stakeholder engagement” don’t write “chatted with stakeholders”.
•    Copy keywords from the Selection Criteria or “About You” section and include these naturally into your skills and work history.

2. Keep It Simple
Fancy fonts, tables and graphics confuse ATS software.
•    Stick with standard fonts like Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman.
•    Avoid text boxes, columns and borders.
•    Save in .docx format unless the ad specifically asks for PDF.

3. Use Standard Headings
The system isn’t creative. It looks for common headings:

•    Use: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Summary
•    Skip: My Journey, Things I’m Great At, Career Vibes

4. Don’t Send the Same CV Everywhere
Sending the same CV to every job almost guarantees rejection.
•    Rewrite your summary for each role.
•    Put the most relevant achievements at the top.
•    Clearly list specific software or tools if the job ad mentions them.

5. Use Acronyms and Full Terms
Not sure if the system looks for acronyms or full words? Use both. For example: “WHS (Work Health and Safety)”

6. Remember the Human Reader
Once you pass the bot, a recruiter will actually read your CV.
•    Keep it easy to skim with bullet points.
•    Use numbers to highlight results, like “Increased retention by 20%”.
•    Keep it professional, but avoid sounding too dry.

7. Localise for Australia
Small details make a big difference.
•    Use Australian spelling (organisation, not organization).
•    Always include your mobile and suburb/state.
•    Proofread carefully, spelling errors stop keywords being recognised.

8. Selection Criteria = The Boss Level
In government, education and health, you’ll often need to address selection criteria.
•    If asked for a separate document, use STAR examples (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
•    If not asked separately, work the criteria into your CV.
•    Mirror the exact wording from the ad, it shows you’ve followed instructions.

Final Thoughts
Think of your CV as a two-step process: first, get through the robot by using the right format and keywords. Then, impress the human with clear achievements and tailored experience. Do both, and you’ll give yourself the best shot at making it to interview.