5 Tips to Get Your CV Past AI Resume Filters

September 10, 2025

If you’ve applied for jobs recently and heard nothing back, it may not be due to a lack of qualifications. Increasingly, CVs are being screened by artificial intelligence before a human recruiter even sees them. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and AI filters scan for keywords, formatting and structure, often rejecting applications that don’t meet specific technical criteria. This trend is global, affecting job markets from London to Lagos. Recent data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics shows vacancies fell by 63,000 between March and May 2025, while JobAdder’s 2025 State of Recruitment Report reveals British recruiters now handle an average of 767 CVs per quarter – a 42% year-on-year increase in applications. For Nigerian professionals seeking roles locally or internationally, understanding how to navigate these automated systems is no longer optional. The following five tips, drawn from recruitment experts and industry reports, provide a clear path to improving your CV’s chances of passing AI screening while still appealing to human readers.

Key takeaways

AI screening is now a standard first step in recruitment, making CV optimisation essential for jobseekers in Nigeria and globally.
Tailoring your CV to match exact keywords from the job description significantly improves visibility to automated systems.
Using conventional section headings ensures AI tools can correctly categorise your experience and qualifications.
Avoiding headers, footers, text boxes and graphics prevents key information from being invisible to recruitment software.
Testing your CV with ATS simulators before submission helps identify and fix issues that could lead to rejection.
Maintaining a human voice in your CV remains crucial, as recruiters still assess personality and cultural fit after AI screening.
Nigerian candidates pursuing international or remote roles benefit from combining technical compliance with authentic self-presentation.

Balance Optimisation with Authenticity

While it is essential to tailor your CV for AI systems, over-optimisation can backfire. Recruiters caution against letting algorithms dictate every word, as a CV that reads like it was generated by a machine often fails to engage human reviewers. Joel Delmaire, AI Expert at JobAdder, warns that excessive reliance on AI-generated content makes applications ‘stick out like a sore thumb’ and risks placing candidates at the bottom of the pile. Instead, jobseekers should use AI as a tool for keyword identification and formatting guidance, then rewrite sections in their own voice. This approach ensures the CV reflects genuine personality, tone and real-world achievements. For Nigerian candidates applying to multinational firms or remote roles, this balance is particularly important – it demonstrates both technical compliance and cultural adaptability, traits increasingly valued in global hiring processes.

Mirror the Job Description’s Language

Keywords remain the most critical factor in passing AI screening. Recruitment systems often score CVs by how closely they match the language used in the job advertisement. Dan Oates, recruiter and founder of BBFGroup, advises candidates to ‘carefully read the job posting and mirror the exact keywords and phrases used in the ad’, particularly for skills, qualifications and job titles. For example, if a role specifies ‘Project Manager’, using ‘Programme Manager’ on your CV may cause the system to overlook the match, despite the functional similarity. Similarly, phrasing ‘stakeholder management’ as ‘relationship building’ could result in a lower relevance score. The solution is to customise your CV for each application, incorporating precise terminology from the description. This practice is especially valuable in competitive sectors like finance, technology and engineering, where Nigerian professionals frequently compete for international opportunities.

Use Standard Section Headings

Creativity in section titles may appeal to human readers but can confuse AI systems. Applicant Tracking Tools are typically programmed to recognise conventional headings such as ‘Work Experience’, ‘Education’, ‘Skills’ and ‘Certifications’. Unusual labels like ‘My Journey’ or ‘What I Bring’ may prevent the system from correctly categorising your information, even if the content is strong. Kerry Sudale, CEO of Sudale Search & Select, recommends sticking to clear, standard formats to ensure proper parsing and scoring. This does not mean sacrificing engagement – the body of each section can still be written dynamically and professionally. For candidates in Nigeria, where CV formats vary widely across industries, adopting this structure improves compatibility with both local and international recruitment platforms, increasing the likelihood that your experience is accurately assessed.

Avoid Complex Formatting Elements

Visual enhancements such as headers, footers, text boxes, images and charts often hinder AI readability. Many ATS platforms cannot extract information from these areas, meaning key details may be missed entirely. Sudale warns that even a visually striking CV can fail at the first screening stage if critical content is trapped in non-readable formats. Instead, opt for a clean, text-based layout using simple fonts and bullet points to organise information. This approach ensures that algorithms can scan your CV accurately while maintaining a professional appearance. For jobseekers in Nigeria accessing online job portals or applying to global firms, this simplicity reduces technical rejection risks and supports fairer evaluation based on content rather than design compatibility.

Test Your CV with ATS Simulation Tools

Before submitting an application, testing your CV against the job description can reveal hidden issues. Free online tools like Jobscan allow users to upload their CV and a target job posting to analyse alignment, keyword matches and formatting compatibility. These simulators provide feedback on how likely an ATS is to parse your information correctly and suggest improvements. Sudale highlights that such checks help candidates catch small mistakes – such as missing keywords or awkward phrasing – that could otherwise lead to automatic rejection. For Nigerian professionals applying to roles abroad or with multinational companies operating locally, this step offers a low-cost way to improve competitiveness. Regular use of these tools also builds awareness of how different industries and regions prioritise specific terminology, enabling more strategic applications over time.

What this means

Navigating AI-driven recruitment requires a strategic blend of technical precision and personal authenticity. As job volumes rise and vacancies fluctuate in markets like the UK, the ability to pass automated screening has become a gatekeeper to interview opportunities. For Nigerian professionals – whether seeking roles at home, with multinational firms operating locally, or abroad – mastering these CV techniques is a practical investment in employability. By aligning with AI requirements without losing your individual voice, you increase the chances that your application reaches a human recruiter. Ultimately, the goal remains unchanged: to present your skills and experience in a way that earns serious consideration. In an era of algorithmic hiring, the most successful candidates are those who speak fluently to both machines and people.

Originally reported by tntmagazine.com. Adapted for our readers with AI assistance.