Re-AI Training Programme — L3.3 How employers use AI in hiring — and how to work with it

Welcome to lesson 3.3, How employers use AI in hiring, and how to work with it. Many employers use software to read, sort and rank CVs before a person ever looks at them. This software is called an ATS. In this lesson, you will learn how an ATS works. We will look at headings, keywords and layouts that it can read. You will use CARE to rewrite a CV point, and learn the common mistakes to avoid. The goal is a CV that is clear, honest and easy for software to read.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to do four things. You will explain what an ATS is and how it screens CVs. You will identify the keywords and formatting that make a CV friendly for an ATS. You will use AI to rewrite parts of your CV, without inventing anything. And you will know how to avoid the most common ATS mistakes.

Here are the key terms for this lesson. ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It is software that employers use to collect, filter and rank CVs, using keywords and other criteria. Keywords are words or phrases from the job advert that the ATS looks for in your CV. CV parsing is how the ATS reads your CV and sorts the information into sections. An action verb is a strong word that shows what you did, such as managed, developed or increased. And keyword stuffing means repeating keywords too often in an unnatural way. It looks like spam.

So why does an ATS matter to you? Many CVs are filtered out by software before a person ever reads them. According to EURES, the EU job mobility network, 70 per cent of large EU employers use an ATS. And 45 per cent of small and medium-sized companies use one too. Small and medium-sized companies are often called SMEs. The message is simple. If the software cannot read your CV, a person may never see it.

In other words, your CV now has two readers: software first, and a person second. A strong candidate can be rejected just because the software could not read their CV. That can feel unfair. But here is the good news. A few simple changes make your CV work for both the software and the people. And this is not about tricking the system. It is about being clear, and using the same words the employer uses.

Let's look at what happens after you click apply. First, you apply by uploading your CV to the company's job website. Second comes parsing. The software reads your CV and sorts it into sections, such as experience, education and skills. Third is matching. It compares your CV with the keywords and criteria from the job advert. Fourth is ranking. It ranks the candidates, and the best matches go to a recruiter to read. Different ATS products work in different ways, but this is the basic idea. Unusual layouts can break the parsing step.

So how do you format your CV to pass automated screening? There are three best practices. First, use standard headings, such as Experience, Education and Skills. Avoid creative labels, because the software may not recognise them. Second, use keywords from the job description, naturally, throughout your CV. Third, keep a clean layout. Avoid tables, graphics, headers and footers. Use one column, and save it as a Word document or a PDF. Have a look at your own CV now. Does it have columns, icons, or a photo in a text box? These can confuse the software.

Now let's use CARE to rewrite a weak CV point. The original says: responsible for various tasks in marketing. For Context, the person is applying for a Digital Marketing Specialist role at a Spanish e-commerce company, focusing on SEO, content and analytics. For Action, rewrite the point to be more specific, with relevant keywords. For Result, make it action-oriented, with real results, under 20 words. For Example, use strong verbs like developed, managed or increased. The AI wrote: developed and executed SEO content strategy, increasing organic traffic by 35 per cent over six months. But watch out. The AI invented that 35 per cent. Only keep numbers that are true.

AI can improve your CV, but you are responsible for every word. Here are the dos. Paste the job advert into the AI and ask for matching keywords. Ask it to make your points clearer and shorter. Tell it clearly: do not invent any experience. And read every line, correcting anything untrue. Now the don'ts. Don't accept skills or results you do not have. Don't copy the job advert word for word. Don't hide keywords in white text. And don't send the CV without reading it yourself. Employers check claims in interviews and with references. An invented skill can cost you the job later.

Here are three common ATS mistakes to avoid. The first is creative layouts. Icons, infographics and unusual fonts confuse the software. The second is keyword stuffing. Too many unnatural keywords look like spam, and they make your CV hard to read. The third is using only abbreviations. Write the term in full the first time, for example Search Engine Optimisation, followed by SEO. The ATS may search for either one, so this helps you match. One more tip: test your CV with a free ATS checker before you apply.

Now it's time for a short video. It explains what an Applicant Tracking System is, how it works, and how to write a CV that works with it. While you watch, think about your own CV. Note down one change you will make to it after watching. You will find the video on the lesson page.

Let's check your understanding. Pause the video and answer these questions. What is an ATS, and what does it do with your CV? Name three things that make a CV easy for an ATS to read. What is keyword stuffing, and why should you avoid it? And why must you check every number and skill that AI adds to your CV? Press play when you are ready to continue.

Two resources can help you go further. The first is the video, Everything You Need to Know About Applicant Tracking Systems. The second is Harvard Business Review research on how AI is changing what employers want from new hires. You will find the links on the lesson page.

Let's recap the key takeaways. Many employers use an ATS to read and rank CVs before a person sees them. Use standard headings and a clean, one-column layout. Use keywords from the job advert naturally, and never stuff them in. Use CARE to rewrite CV points with strong action verbs. And never let AI invent skills, jobs or results. Check every single line before you send.

Now put it into practice. On the platform, start with the activity, Get your CV past the software. Then begin Exercise 3.3, Build your digital portfolio, which takes about one and a half hours. You will continue it in the next lesson. Finally, take the lesson quiz. It has five questions, and you need 70 per cent to pass. Don't worry, you can retake it as many times as you need.

Co-funded by the European Union.