Most job seekers I work with did not get rejected by a person. They never reached one.

Applicant Tracking Systems parse your file before a recruiter sees it. These four things knock people out:

1. Fancy templates. Columns, text boxes, icons, and graphics look clean in Word. ATS reads them as empty. Use a single-column layout.

2. The wrong file type. Some portals still choke on pages built in Canva or as images. Send a .docx or a text-based PDF.

3. Job titles that don't match the posting. If they asked for "Operations Manager" and your header says "Ops Lead / All-rounder," the system will not score you. Mirror the language in the posting.

4. Skills trapped in a logo row. Software names sitting next to icons often don't get parsed. Write the skill in plain text.

I rewrite resumes, CVs, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles so they pass the machine and still read like a person wrote them. If you're applying this month, fix the file before you send another application.