ATS-Friendly CV Guide for Job Seekers in Somalia and East Africa

Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sort CVs before a person reads them. This guide shows you how to format and write a CV that software can read and recruiters want to open.

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What is an ATS and why does it matter?

An ATS stores job applications and lets recruiters search them by keywords, job titles and dates. If your CV has an unusual layout, missing headings, or none of the keywords from the job advert, it can be skipped or ranked low. Not every employer uses an ATS, but a clean, clear CV helps in both cases.

Format that software can read

  • Use one column and a plain font such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman.
  • Save your CV as a text-based PDF or a Word (.docx) file, not a photo or a scan.
  • Avoid tables, text boxes, icons and graphics for important details.
  • Put your contact details in the main page, not in the header or footer.
  • Use standard headings: Summary, Experience, Education and Skills.
  • Keep it to one page if you are early in your career, or two pages if you have more experience.

What to include

  1. Contact details: your name, phone number with country code, a professional email address, and your city and country.
  2. Summary: two or three lines about who you are and what job you want.
  3. Experience: newest first, with job title, employer, location and dates.
  4. Education and training: degrees, courses and certificates with years.
  5. Skills: tools and abilities that match the job advert.
  6. Extras: languages, certifications, projects or volunteering if they help your application.
Personal details: many international employers do not need your date of birth, marital status or a photo. Read the job advert and follow its instructions.

Write bullet points that show results

Recruiters want to know what you achieved, not only what you were responsible for. Start each bullet with an action verb and add numbers when they are true.

Weak: Responsible for helping customers.

Stronger (example): Resolved 40 customer enquiries a day and raised satisfaction scores from 82% to 91%.

Match the job advert

  • Copy the exact names of skills and tools from the advert when they honestly describe you.
  • Use the job title from the advert in your summary.
  • Do not stuff keywords or hide text. Recruiters and systems both notice.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Long paragraphs instead of short bullet points.
  • Missing dates on jobs and education.
  • Several fonts, colours and decorative graphics.
  • A scanned image saved as a PDF.
  • A file named “CV.pdf”. Use Firstname-Lastname-CV instead.
  • Spelling and grammar errors.

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Frequently asked questions

Should I put a photo on my CV?

Only if the job advert asks for one. Software cannot read photos, and many employers do not need them.

Is PDF or Word better?

Either works if the file contains real text. If the advert asks for one format, use that one.

How long should my CV be?

One page is enough early in your career. Two pages is fine with more experience. Do not go beyond two unless the employer asks.

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