CV
Compose

ATS CV Maker - Free

Every CVCompose template is built to pass applicant tracking systems - not just look good on screen.

Most CVs never reach a recruiter. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) reject them automatically because of tables, text boxes, graphics, or multi-column layouts that the parser cannot read. CVCompose templates are designed from the ground up for ATS compatibility - clean structure, correct heading hierarchy, and machine-readable formatting throughout.

What ATS actually checks

An ATS scans your CV as plain text. It looks for recognisable section headings (Experience, Education, Skills), extracts dates and job titles, and scores the document against the job requirements. Anything the parser cannot read is silently dropped - which means your best experience may never be seen.

What makes a CV fail ATS

  • Multi-column layouts - text order becomes jumbled when parsed
  • Tables - content inside cells is often skipped entirely
  • Text boxes, headers, footers - invisible to most parsers
  • Graphics and icons - cannot be read as text
  • Unusual fonts or excessive styling - disrupts text extraction
  • Non-standard section headings - 'My Journey' instead of 'Experience'

What CVCompose does differently

  • Single-column, linear layout - parsed top to bottom without errors
  • Standard HTML heading structure - h1/h2/h3 mapped to PDF correctly
  • No tables, no text boxes, no floating elements
  • Standard section labels - Experience, Education, Skills, Languages
  • Clean font stack - system fonts that render reliably in all parsers
  • All 20+ templates follow the same ATS-safe structure

20+ ATS-friendly CV templates - all free

Every ATS-friendly CV template in CVCompose uses the same underlying structure: single column, no tables, no text boxes. The visual variety comes from typography, spacing, and colour - not from layout tricks that break parsing. All 20+ templates pass ATS - pick any one.

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Frequently asked questions