How to pass the MTN Uganda ATS screen

Large employers such as telecoms and banks receive far more applications than a recruiter can read. Many use an applicant tracking system (ATS) or an online careers portal that reads your CV, pulls out your details and helps recruiters filter applicants.

How screening software reads a CV

The system turns your file into plain text, then tries to find your name, contact details, job titles, employers, dates, education and skills. Problems happen when that conversion goes wrong: text in the wrong order, missing sections, or dates it can’t read.

Layout fixes that matter most

1. 1Use one column. Two-column templates are read straight across the page, mixing your skills sidebar into your work history.
2. 2Put your email and phone in the body, under your name. Some systems ignore page headers and footers.
3. 3Use standard headings: “Work Experience”, “Education”, “Skills”. Creative headings like “My Journey” may not be recognised.
4. 4Keep text as text. Skill bars, icons and text inside images can’t be read.
5. 5Write dates in full: “03/2021 – Present”, not “’21 – now”.
6. 6Send a text-based PDF or Word file exactly as the advert asks, never a scan or photo.

Keywords: match the advert honestly

Recruiters often search or filter for the skills in the job description. For a telecom role that might be terms like “network performance”, “customer experience”, “sales targets”, “mobile money”, “SQL” or “stakeholder management”, depending on the job. Use the advert’s exact wording where it describes something you have really done.

Before you submit

• Fill in every field of the online form, even if it repeats your CV. Some portals search the form, not the file.
• Name your file clearly, for example “Grace-Nakato-CV.pdf”.
• Tailor your top bullets for each application rather than sending one CV everywhere.
• Keep a copy of the advert. Adverts are often taken down before interviews.