Automation in Recruitment: Why Readability Can Outweigh Design The way companies recruit has changed significantly in recent years. Where applications once landed directly in the hands of a recruiter, today many organizations rely on automation and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to handle the first steps of the process. This shift has made the CV not just a marketing tool for candidates, but also a piece of data that needs to be easily read and interpreted by machines.
When you apply for a job online, it’s very likely that your CV will first be parsed by software before a human recruiter ever sees it. These systems scan documents to extract information such as job titles, responsibilities, dates, and skills. Based on this data, candidates are compared to the job description and ranked accordingly. Only those who meet the requirements most closely move forward to a recruiter’s desk.
This creates a challenge for applicants: your CV must appeal to humans while also being compatible with automated systems. A visually striking, graphic-rich design might impress a recruiter, but it can cause problems earlier in the process. Many ATS tools struggle with complex layouts, text inside images, multiple columns, or unusual fonts. As a result, key details may be misread, jumbled, or even skipped altogether. That could mean your CV is rated poorly or filtered out entirely, not because you aren’t qualified, but because the system couldn’t interpret the information correctly.
That doesn’t mean design has no place. A clean, professional layout can still make a strong impression when a person eventually opens your CV. The critical point is to strike the right balance. Ensure your document has a clear structure with standard section headings, such as Work Experience, Skills, and Education. Use simple fonts, avoid embedding crucial text in graphics, and where possible, follow the file format requested by the employer—some systems handle PDFs well, others prefer Word files.
In essence, your CV has two audiences. The first is the automated system that decides whether you progress at all. The second is the recruiter, who will hopefully take the time to consider your profile. To succeed, you need to write with both in mind. A polished design may help you stand out, but clarity and structure are what ensure you’re not eliminated before you get the chance.
How about you? When preparing your CV, do you prioritize readability or design? Have you ever had issues with an ATS rejecting your application? We’d love to hear your experiences — share your thoughts with us on our LinkedIn profile.
