Study reveals ATS rarely auto-rejects CVs, debunks 75% myth

A recent study by Enhancv of 25 US-based recruiters has challenged the widespread belief that the majority of job applications are never seen by humans due to automatic rejection by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). The research gathered perspectives from professionals across sectors such as technology, healthcare, finance, publishing, and retail, who collectively use more than ten major ATS platforms.

ATS rejection myth

The claim that 75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before reaching a human reviewer has circulated widely online. However, the study found this figure to be unsupported by recruiters' experience. Of the professionals interviewed, 92% stated their systems do not automatically reject resumes based on formatting, design, missing keywords, or low AI match scores. Auto-rejection was only used by 8% of participants and applied solely to roles with highly specific requirements.

Common filters within ATS focus on legal or compliance factors such as work-authorisation, required licences, minimum qualifications, or geographic location. Recruiters explained these are used for regulatory reasons rather than as hidden tests for document style or length.

AI scoring limited

Although 44% of ATS platforms in use offer automated "fit scores" based on matching candidate content to job descriptions, most recruiters either disable this feature or treat it as a preliminary guide. Instead, candidate screening remains largely manual, with recruiters reviewing applications themselves despite the volume.

Recruiters reported that job postings, especially for entry-level, administrative, or customer-focused roles, attract hundreds to thousands of applicants within days. In fields such as software engineering and data analysis, application counts can exceed 2,000 very quickly. Many recruiters acknowledged that they often close postings or stop reviews once enough suitable candidates have applied.

"ATS systems don't automatically disposition people - we have to go in and do it ourselves. We don't want to miss a qualified applicant," said Charkin Whitehead, Recruitment Relationship Manager, Allegis Global Solutions.

Rejection myth origins

When asked about the origins of the 75% rejection statistic, 68% of recruiters pointed to posts on social media such as LinkedIn and TikTok, often shared by job seekers. Another 20% identified career coaches and resume-writing services as sources, blaming them for spreading outdated or misleading advice to promote specific templates. The remaining 12% believed media coverage without verifiable data contributed to the misconception.

"It's such a false narrative, and it's taking advantage of people. It's really a shame that people resort to that scare tactic," said Reggie Martin, Recruiter.

Effective applications

The research highlighted several factors that increase the likelihood of a resume advancing to interview stage. According to recruiters, clear and easy-to-skim structure is valued by 92%. Relevant experience and skills presented naturally were important for 88%. Short, achievement-focused bullet points were preferred by 72%, while 68% cited simple formatting and 64% asked for no more than two pages. Tailoring application content to the job, without obvious keyword stuffing, was noted as useful by 76%.

"We're still true believers in reviewing all applicants. We useily use filters to see the strongest first, but we look through everything," said Crystal Hughes, Director of Talent, Accuserve Solutions.

Application advice

The findings suggest candidates should focus less on optimising for automated systems and more on producing clear, concise, and tailored CVs matching the job brief. Recruiters recommended applying soon after vacancies are posted and making use of LinkedIn or cover letters to increase visibility.