CV Tips, ATS Checker & Interview Prep

Simple, practical guidance to help you apply with a cleaner CV, prepare stronger answers, and walk into interviews with more confidence.

Before you apply

• Check that your contact details are correct and professional.
• Keep your CV to the point, ideally one to two pages for most entry and mid-level roles.
• Use keywords from the job advert where they truthfully match your experience.
• Run an ATS check on your CV to catch missing keywords, unclear sections, or formatting issues.
• Save your CV as a PDF unless the employer asks for another format.

Interview preparation

• Research the company, role, location, and closing date before the interview.
• Prepare a short answer for: "Tell me about yourself."
• Use the STAR method for examples: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
• Prepare two smart questions to ask the interviewer about the role or team.
• Test your internet, microphone, camera, and documents before online interviews.

Use the ATS Checker before applying

Before you send your CV, run it through Career Unified's free ATS Checker. It uses AI to scan your CV for structure, readability, relevant keywords and formatting issues that can affect how an applicant tracking system reads it.

The checker gives your CV a score out of 100. We recommend aiming for a score of 75 or higher before applying. A strong score is a useful signal that your CV is clear and ATS-ready, but it does not replace truthful experience or careful review of the job requirements.

• Upload the latest version of your CV.
• Review the score and the AI feedback.
• Improve unclear sections and missing role-specific keywords.
• Check every suggested change so your CV remains accurate.
• Run the checker again after making meaningful edits.

Check your CV for free before you apply and make your application easier to review.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using one generic CV for every job application.
• Adding skills you cannot explain in an interview.
• Leaving spelling mistakes, old dates, or broken links on your CV.
• Applying without checking whether you meet the core requirements.