How Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Read Your CV: A Guide for UN Staff

Before a person reads your resume, software will often have read it first. Here's how that software works, how it differs from UN Inspira, and how to format your CV so it gets through.

ATS Software Isn't Inspira

You know Inspira. You type your information into structured web forms. Employers outside the UN often use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) instead, such as Workday, Greenhouse or Lever. It scans the Word or PDF file you upload and reads it automatically. If the layout is too complex, the software mixes up your experience, and your application may be rejected before a person ever sees it. Is that common? A 2021 Harvard Business School and Accenture survey of employers found that 88% said qualified, high-skilled candidates were being screened out because they didn't match the job criteria exactly. That tells you about employers' hiring systems and criteria in general. It doesn't mean software rejects a fixed share of resumes. The practical lesson is the same: use the words from the job ad and keep your layout simple.

Formatting Rules for ATS

A few simple rules keep your document readable for the software:

• Layout: One column, normal flow. Don't put important text in text boxes or sidebars.
• Headers and footers: Don't put your contact details in the Word header or footer. Many ATS programs skip those areas.
• File type: Send a standard .docx file or a text-based PDF, whichever the application asks for.
• Headings: Use standard section headings ('Summary', 'Experience', 'Education', 'Skills').

Use Keywords Naturally

ATS programs rank candidates by how well their words match the job description. So, find the main skills, certificates and work terms in the job ad, and use them naturally in your summary and your achievement bullets. (There's no need to repeat them multiple times. The software isn't that easily impressed, and neither is the human who will eventually read it.)