learn
beginner
ChatGPT
Jobscan
Resume.io
How to Use AI to Write a CV That Gets Past ATS Filters
Discover how to leverage AI tools to format, optimise, and refine your CV so it passes through Applicant Tracking Systems and reaches human recruiters.
8 min read26 February 2026
career
CV
ATS
job search
AI tools
Use AI to identify and incorporate ATS-friendly keywords from job descriptions that match your experience
Leverage AI tools to structure your CV with clean formatting, proper section headings, and logical bullet point hierarchy
Employ ChatGPT or similar models to craft achievement-focused bullet points that highlight metrics and impact
Validate your CV against ATS scanners before submitting to catch formatting issues that might cause rejection
Why This Matters
{"heading":"Why This Matters","body":"In today's competitive job market, especially across Asia where multinational companies and local enterprises alike use ATS software, up to 75% of applications never reach a human recruiter. Many talented professionals in India, Southeast Asia, and beyond see their CVs automatically filtered out not because they're unqualified, but because the document doesn't match how ATS systems read and parse information. AI tools can't replace your genuine experience and qualifications, but they can help you present them in a format that both machines and humans find compelling. In Asia's rapidly growing tech hubs and expanding corporate sectors, mastering this skill gives you a significant edge."}
How to Do It
Prompts to Try
Extract key skills, keywords, and qualifications from this job description, organised into categories: technical skills, soft skills, and industry-specific terms. Here's the job description: [PASTE JOB DESCRIPTION]
Rewrite these CV bullet points using the STAR method and incorporate these keywords naturally: [PASTE KEYWORDS]. Here are my current bullets: [PASTE CURRENT BULLETS]
Write a professional summary for a [JOB TITLE] role incorporating these keywords: [PASTE KEYWORDS]. Keep it to 3-4 sentences, focus on measurable outcomes, and reflect my experience: [PASTE YOUR BACKGROUND]
Compare this job description to my CV and identify gaps. What skills or keywords am I missing? Job description: [PASTE JOB DESCRIPTION]. My CV: [PASTE YOUR CV]
Review my CV for ATS compatibility. Check for inconsistent formatting, non-standard headers, and keyword density issues. Here's my CV: [PASTE YOUR CV]
Common Mistakes
Tools That Work for This
JobscanParses your CV against a job description, identifying missing keywords and formatting issues. Provides a match percentage and specific recommendations.
Resume.ioAI-powered resume builder with built-in ATS compatibility checking and templates designed to pass ATS systems.
ChatGPT or ClaudeGeneral-purpose AI assistants for rewriting CV content, extracting keywords, and identifying gaps.
ResyMatchAI-powered CV analysis tool that compares your resume against job postings and suggests improvements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not at all. Customising means strategically presenting your genuine experience in the language of the specific role, not fabricating qualifications. You're reordering sections, emphasising relevant achievements, and using the employer's terminology to describe skills you actually possess. This is expected in competitive job markets, particularly in Asia where applicant volumes are high.
Aim for natural integration across multiple sections. If a job posting emphasises a keyword, mention it in your summary, relevant experience bullets, and skills section. Generally, 3-5 mentions of a critical keyword across your full CV is ideal. AI tools like Jobscan show keyword frequency to help you match proportionally.
ChatGPT alone is powerful for extracting keywords, rewriting bullet points, and structuring your CV. However, dedicated ATS checkers like Jobscan provide specific, algorithm-based feedback that mimics actual ATS parsing. The combination of ChatGPT for content plus one ATS checker for validation gives you strong coverage.
ATS systems don't penalise gaps directly. For career changes, your professional summary becomes critical: use it to bridge previous experience to the new role. Use AI to help reframe your background in a way that positions career transitions as strategic moves. This works well in Asia's evolving job markets where career pivots are increasingly valued.
Next Steps
{"heading":"What to Do Next","body":"Pick one job posting you're genuinely interested in and follow this process: extract keywords, restructure your CV, rewrite bullets to highlight impact, and test against an ATS checker. Build a master CV template based on what you learn. Commit to customising this template for each application. Track what works over the next 2-3 months. Remember: AI amplifies your genuine strengths; it doesn't replace them. In Asia's competitive job market, taking 30 minutes to optimise your CV properly before each application can mean the difference between your qualifications reaching a decision-maker or disappearing into an automated inbox."}