AMA crafting CV for UK job market : Is possible to have a CV that's peak for both ATS and a human?
07 Jun 2026
In this moment:
Dan Caseley
Yes. In fact, the best modern CVs are designed for both ATS and human readers.
A common misconception is that you must choose between an ATS-friendly resume and an attractive, recruiter-friendly one. You can satisfy both by focusing on clarity.
For ATS:
- Use standard section headings (Summary, Skills, Experience, Education).
- Include relevant keywords naturally from the job description.
- Use a simple structure with clear dates, job titles, and technologies.
- Avoid text embedded in images, graphics, or complex tables.
For Humans:
- Lead with achievements, not just responsibilities.
- Quantify impact where possible.
- Keep the layout clean and easy to scan.
- Highlight the most relevant testing skills and accomplishments quickly.
Example (better for both ATS and humans): use quantification and how you did it.
❌ Responsible for test automation.
✅ Built Selenium and Playwright automation frameworks, reducing regression testing time by 60% and increasing release confidence.
Madhuri Mittal
QA Engineer
She
An ambitious QA engineer who lives with and for quality!
Looking forward to resume my career after 2 years of full time parenting break.
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