How ATS Systems Read Your CV Header

What the Robot Sees

In 2024, 98.4% of Fortune 500 companies use an Applicant Tracking System to screen CVs before a human sees them. ATS systems scan your header to extract three things: your name, your email, and your phone number. If the parser fails, your application may be filed incorrectly—or lost entirely.

The good news: formatting for ATS is simple. The bad news: many candidates get it wrong.

How Parsing Works

When you upload a CV, the ATS attempts to:

1. Identify your name — Usually the first line, largest font.
2. Extract your email — Pattern matching for @ and .com/.co.uk.
3. Extract your phone — Pattern matching for number strings.
4. Pull your LinkedIn — Looks for linkedin.com/in/ patterns.

If your formatting confuses the parser, these fields may be left blank or filled with garbage.

Common Parsing Failures

Problem: Name in a text box or table ATS parsers struggle with text boxes. Your name may be skipped entirely.

Problem: Icons instead of labels Using a phone icon (📞) instead of text can confuse parsers. The robot doesn't "see" the icon.

Problem: Email embedded in a hyperlink Some parsers extract the display text, not the link. If your email shows as "Email Me" instead of the actual address, the parser misses it.

Problem: Creative formatting Columns, graphics, and unusual layouts break parsing. The robot reads left-to-right, top-to-bottom.

The Safe Format

Use plain text in a single column. No tables. No text boxes. No icons without labels.

JANE SMITH
Commercial Director

Phone: +44 7700 900456
Email: jane.smith@email.com
Location: London, UK
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janesmith

Labels like "Phone:" and "Email:" help parsers identify fields correctly. They're optional for humans but helpful for robots.

Example of a well-formatted LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/garypine

Testing Your Header

Before submitting:

1. Copy your CV text into a plain text editor (Notepad).
2. Check that your name, email, and phone appear correctly.
3. If anything looks garbled, simplify your formatting.

Many job boards show you a "parsed preview" after uploading. Always review it.

Pre-Flight Checklist

For ATS-safe headers:

• Name is plain text, not in a text box or graphic.
• Email is displayed as text, not hidden in a hyperlink.
• Phone number includes country code with no unusual characters.
• LinkedIn URL is written out, not just linked.
• No icons without text labels beside them.
• Single-column layout (no tables or side panels).

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For more on ATS compatibility, explore our ATS Optimisation insights.