ATS platform guide

How to beat Pinpoint ATS.

UK-founded and used by in-house teams in 50+ countries, with customers split roughly evenly between the UK and Europe and the US

Pinpoint is a UK-founded applicant tracking system built for in-house talent teams at mid-market and enterprise organisations. It is common across UK multi-site and regulated employers, and its careers sites are typically hosted on a pinpointhq.com subdomain.

Companies using Pinpoint

River Island

Formatting tips for Pinpoint

Follow these rules to make sure Pinpoint can parse your resume correctly.

Use a single-column layout with standard headings. The parser is modern but still extracts text linearly.

Keep contact details in the document body rather than the header.

Both .docx and .pdf parse well. Export PDFs from a word processor rather than a design tool.

Avoid tables and text boxes, which are read out of order or ignored entirely.

Anonymised screening can hide your name and personal details, so your evidence has to carry the application on its own.

Use consistent Month Year date formats so the parser does not invent gaps in your history.

Keyword strategies for Pinpoint

Each ATS handles keywords differently. Here is how Pinpoint processes them.

1

Match scoring compares your CV against the advert, so use the employer's exact terms for the essential criteria.

2

Anonymised screening strips identity, not evidence. Numbers, tools and outcomes are what survive.

3

Name UK-specific qualifications and regulatory terms explicitly, particularly in regulated hiring.

4

Front-load the essential criteria in your personal statement, which is read first.

5

Say each key term once, in a real sentence, rather than repeating it.

Common rejection reasons

These are the most common reasons resumes get filtered out by Pinpoint.

The AI match score placed the application below the threshold set for the role

Anonymised screening compared candidates on evidence alone and stronger evidence was present elsewhere

Application questions or right-to-work criteria filtered the candidate out

The role was closed early after being filled from the talent pipeline

Essential criteria named in the advert were absent from the CV

Insider tips

A careers site on a pinpointhq.com subdomain is the clearest sign you are applying through Pinpoint.
Pinpoint is built around UK and EU data protection with UK and European hosting, so expect explicit consent and retention notices.
Many Pinpoint employers use anonymised screening. Your name, school and photo may never reach the first shortlist, which makes quantified evidence unusually important.
Pinpoint is strong in regulated and multi-site hiring, so expect structured scorecards and audit trails rather than informal conversations.

Accepted file formats

.pdf.docx.doc.rtf.txt

Test your resume against Pinpoint.

Upload your resume and paste the job description. See which keywords are missing and fix formatting issues before you apply.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I format my resume for Pinpoint?▾

Use a single-column layout with standard headings. The parser is modern but still extracts text linearly. Keep contact details in the document body rather than the header.

What file format should I use for Pinpoint?▾

Pinpoint accepts .pdf, .docx, .doc, .rtf, .txt. DOCX is generally recommended for better parsing accuracy.

Which companies use Pinpoint?▾

Major companies using Pinpoint include River Island, and many others.

Why was my resume rejected by Pinpoint?▾

The most common reason is formatting issues that prevent proper parsing. The AI match score placed the application below the threshold set for the role