ATS Optimization Guide for Sweden

Before a human recruiter ever sees your CV, it has to pass the 'machine check.' Most Swedish tech companies use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) to filter through a huge pile of applications. If your CV isn't formatted right, it might get rejected before a person even reads your name. Here’s how to avoid that.

Formatting Rules for ATS

• ✅ Single-column layout only
• ✅ Standard section headings: "Experience", "Education", "Skills"
• ✅ Save and send as PDF
• ✅ Standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica
• ✗ No tables or text boxes
• ✗ No two-column layouts — they break ATS parsing consistently

Keyword Strategy

ATS ranks your CV by matching it against the job description. Read the posting carefully and mirror the exact terminology used. If the posting says "Kubernetes" — write "Kubernetes", not "K8s". Place keywords naturally within your experience bullets and skills section — not dumped at the bottom of the page.

The 30-Second Self-Test

Before submitting, copy and paste your CV text into a plain-text editor like Notepad. If it reads cleanly and in order, the ATS will parse it correctly. If it looks scrambled, go back and fix the layout.