Introduction

Every year, over 75% of CVs are rejected by ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) before they ever reach a recruiter. If you’ve applied for dozens of jobs but never received a call, ATS rejection could be the real reason — not your experience or qualifications.

In this blog, we’ll explain:

• What ATS is
• Why ATS rejects CVs
• Common ATS mistakes
• How to create an ATS-friendly CV that gets shortlisted

Whether you’re applying in hospitality, IT, finance, healthcare, or management, this guide will help you pass ATS screening in 2026.

What Is an ATS (Applicant Tracking System)?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by employers to:

• Scan CVs automatically
• Rank candidates based on keywords
• Filter unqualified applications

Most global companies like Marriott Career, Hilton Career, IHG Career, Accor Career and Jumeirah Group Career use ATS to manage high application volumes.

👉 Important: ATS does not judge your talent — it only reads data.

Top Reasons Why Your CV Gets Rejected by ATS

1. Missing Keywords from Job Description

ATS scans your CV for specific keywords mentioned in the job posting.

❌ Example:
Job requires: “Duty Manager, Opera PMS, Guest Satisfaction”
Your CV mentions: “Front Office Supervisor, Hotel Software”

✅ Fix:
Use exact keywords from the job description naturally in your CV.

2. Non-ATS Friendly CV Format

ATS cannot properly read:

• Tables
• Text boxes
• Icons & images
• Two-column layouts
• Headers & footers

❌ Canva / Infographic CVs
✅ Simple single-column CV

Best Format:
✔ Word (.docx)
✔ Text-based PDF

3. Creative Section Headings Confuse ATS

ATS looks for standard resume headings.

❌ My Journey
❌ What I Offer
❌ Career Story

✅ Work Experience
✅ Skills
✅ Education
✅ Certifications

4. No Dedicated Skills Section

Many ATS systems rank CVs heavily based on the Skills section.

❌ Skills mentioned only in paragraphs
✅ Clear bullet-point skills list

Example:

• Guest Relations
• Opera PMS
• Team Leadership
• Conflict Resolution
• Revenue Management

5. Incorrect Job Titles

ATS matches your previous job titles with the role applied.

❌ “Front Desk Leader”
✅ “Duty Manager” (if accurate)

💡 Tip: You can write:
Front Desk Leader (Duty Manager Equivalent)

6. Keyword Stuffing Lowers Your Score

Repeating keywords unnaturally can hurt ATS ranking.

❌ “Guest service guest service guest service”
✅ “Delivered exceptional guest service while resolving complaints”

7. Spelling & Grammar Errors

ATS treats misspelled words as missing skills.

❌ “Oper PMS”
❌ “Mariot Bonvoy”

✅ “Opera PMS”
✅ “Marriott Bonvoy”

8. Wrong File Type or Scanned CV

ATS cannot read:

• Scanned CVs
• Image-based PDFs

✅ Always upload editable text files.

9. CV Length Is Too Long or Too Short

Ideal length:

• Freshers: 1 page
• Experienced professionals: 1–2 pages

❌ 4–5 pages = lower ATS score

10. Generic CV for Every Job

Sending the same CV to all jobs = automatic rejection.

✅ Customize your CV for each role using the job description.

How to Make Your CV ATS-Friendly (Step-by-Step)

✅ ATS Resume Checklist

✔ Single-column layout
✔ Standard headings
✔ Keywords from job description
✔ Dedicated skills section
✔ Correct job titles
✔ Clean fonts (Arial, Calibri)
✔ No graphics or tables

Best ATS-Friendly CV Structure

1. Professional Summary (keyword-rich)
2. Core Skills
3. Work Experience
4. Education
5. Certifications
6. Languages & Technical Skills

ATS-Friendly CV Example (Summary Section)

Experienced Duty Manager with 8+ years in luxury hospitality, specializing in guest relations, Opera PMS, team leadership, and service recovery. Proven ability to improve GSS scores and manage front office operations in five-star hotels.

Industries Most Affected by ATS Rejection

• Hospitality & Hotels
• Aviation
• IT & Software
• Banking & Finance
• Healthcare
• Government & MNCs

Final Thoughts

If your CV keeps getting rejected, the problem is not you — it’s your CV format and keywords.

An ATS-optimized CV can increase your interview chances by 3x to 5x.

FAQs – ATS CV Rejection

Q1: Can ATS read PDFs?

Yes, but only text-based PDFs, not scanned ones.

Q2: Is Canva CV ATS-friendly?

Most Canva CVs are NOT ATS-friendly due to design elements.

Q3: Should I add keywords multiple times?

No. Use keywords naturally and contextually.

Q4: Does ATS reject based on age or nationality?

No. ATS only scans skills, experience, and keywords.

Need Help with ATS Optimization?

I can help you with:
✅ ATS CV rewrite
✅ Job-specific CV optimization
✅ Hospitality CVs (Marriott, Hilton, IHG)
✅ LinkedIn profile optimization

👉 Contact us today at Gulf Hospitality Jobs to get shortlisted faster. – Leave the Message with your contact details