Creating a great CV goes beyond picking a nice design or writing catchy phrases. If you’re applying to companies that use automated recruitment platforms (and many already do), your CV needs to be compatible with AI-based screening systems.
In this article, we’ll show you how to structure a CV that works well with AI tools without losing the human touch. We’ll cover what to include (and avoid), common mistakes, how to use keywords effectively, structure examples, and everything else that will help you stand out.
What are AI tools in recruitment?
Nowadays, companies, especially medium and large-sized ones, use automated systems to pre-screen CVs. These platforms, known as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), scan your CV for keywords, formatting, structure, and specific criteria set by the company.
If your CV isn’t optimized for these tools, it can be automatically rejected, even if you’re a perfect fit for the role. That’s why knowing how to tailor your CV to pass these filters is so important. It shows attention to detail, market awareness, and adaptability, qualities that are increasingly valued by employers. By adjusting your CV to meet these standards, you’re demonstrating an understanding of today’s hiring landscape and how to position your value strategically.
Ideal CV structure (for AI and humans)
To ensure your CV gets read, by AI or a recruiter, it should follow a clear, direct structure. This format is also useful if you want to highlight key information without losing impact.
It’s not just AI reading this way, recruiters often skim through dozens of CVs a day, so a clean layout with well-defined sections and visible keywords helps capture attention within seconds.
1. Personal information & contact details
Start with the basics, but avoid including sensitive or unnecessary data:
Name, email, phone number, location (city and district), LinkedIn (or GitHub, if relevant).
Avoid including personal identifiers like tax ID, full home address, or passport number.
2. Professional summary
This is your opening pitch. In a few lines, show who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for.
Example:
“Cybersecurity engineer with 5 years of experience in corporate environments. Specialized in vulnerability management and incident response, seeking to join a security-focused team protecting cloud infrastructure.”
Use direct language and tailor it to the role and company culture you’re applying to.
3. Professional experience
Here, you should show not only where you worked, but also what you achieved. For each professional experience, clearly include the company name, your job title, the period you worked there, and a brief summary of your main responsibilities and tasks. It’s also essential to mention the tools and technologies you used in each role, especially those relevant to the position you’re applying for.
Follow reverse chronological order (from most recent to oldest), with both start and end dates for each role.
Include the company name, job title, dates, responsibilities, and achievements with concrete data.
Mention the technical tools or platforms used in each context (e.g., AWS, Jira, SQL, Figma, SAP…).
4. Academic background
If you’re currently studying or finishing your degree and don’t yet have relevant professional experience, it’s best to start your CV with the academic background section.
Prioritize your most recent degree and list it first. This helps recruiters quickly understand your education level and what you’re currently studying. Always include the name of the institution, your degree or course, and the start and end dates. If you haven’t completed it yet, you can write “in progress” or mention the expected graduation date.
You can also include your GPA (if it works in your favor) and briefly summarize what you’ve learned so far. If your degree has a technical focus, such as cybersecurity, data science, or software engineering, make sure to highlight that clearly. Also mention the tools or programming languages you’ve mastered during your studies, such as Python, SQL, Figma, or SAP.
This section is essential for those entering the job market. Highlight academic projects, practical assignments, internships, or relevant extracurricular activities like hackathons, competitions, or additional training. Anything that shows initiative, hands-on knowledge, and a willingness to learn will be seen as valuable.
If you want to simplify this part of your CV, here are some practical tips:
Emphasize your degree and academic level at the top of the section.
Specify the technical topics you’ve studied (e.g., databases, networks, machine learning).
Include tools and languages you’ve learned (e.g., Java, HTML, Power BI).
Mention individual or group projects that demonstrate practical ability.
If you’ve taken part in technical events or competitions, list them to reinforce your motivation.
Briefly summarize your thesis or final project, if applicable, with a focus on its technical aspects and relevance.
5. Technical & language skills
Highlight your technical skills in a clear and well-organized way to make them easy to scan. This section is also one of the most important for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), which rely heavily on keyword matching. So make sure the skills you list match the requirements in the job posting, using the same terminology or technical expressions. This greatly increases the chances of your CV being flagged as relevant by the system and ultimately reaching the right people.
Group your skills by category: programming languages, frameworks, tools, methodologies, languages.
Use simple, easy-to-skim bullet points.
Prioritize the skills most relevant to the position.
Use the exact terms from the job description (e.g., “Power BI” instead of “BI Tools”).
6. Soft skills & personal interests
While not the main focus of a technical CV, including a section with your soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, or teamwork, can help strengthen your profile. Make sure these skills align with the job description and the role’s specific challenges. Avoid generic lists and only mention skills you can back up with concrete examples.
You can also dedicate a line or two to hobbies or personal interests that reflect initiative, creativity, or teamwork, such as volunteering, team sports, or side projects, but only if they add value to your professional profile.
Common mistakes to avoid
Even with strong content, certain formatting and language choices can undermine your CV’s success, especially when it’s initially screened by automated systems. To improve your chances of getting through, avoid the following common mistakes:
Overly creative designs with tables, icons, or multiple columns confuse ATS systems.
Avoid placing key information in headers/footers since they may not be read.
Generic buzzwords (“dynamic,” “team player”) without context carry little weight.
Long lists of irrelevant skills dilute your profile.
Stick to simple, compatible formats like PDF or DOCX.
Tips to maximize AI compatibility
Beyond layout, a few strategic tweaks can make a big difference:
Use job-specific keywords: Study the job ad carefully. If it says “React and TypeScript in Agile environments,” include those exact phrases, if applicable to your experience. Direct keyword alignment improves your chances of being selected by ATS filters.
Highlight measurable achievements: Replace vague statements like “responsible for managing a team” with specifics: “Led a team of 4 developers, achieving 100% on-time delivery over 12 months.” Numbers build credibility.
Customize without overcomplicating: Adapt the summary and section order to better match the job. Small strategic changes can be the difference between making it through or not.
An AI-friendly CV doesn’t mean losing personality: The goal isn’t to sound robotic. It’s about making your value visible, whether it’s a machine or a person reviewing your CV. Even if a system sees it first, people make the final decision. So be clear, direct, and show what you bring to the table.
Final thoughts
Your CV is still your first business card and with more automated filters than ever, it needs to perform well with both algorithms and recruiters. A clean layout, the right keywords, and concrete results can help you rise above the noise.
At Dellent, we know what makes a CV shine among hundreds of applications. Check out our open positions or send us your updated CV, we’ll help you take the next step in tech. And don’t worry, real humans read every application we receive 😉
