# Glossary of CV formatting and recruitment terms

> Definitions of the terms used across RemakeCV and recruitment CV formatting — ATS, anonymisation, credits, OCR, parsing, templates and more.

Source: https://www.remakecv.com/help/reference/glossary
Last updated: 2026-08-21

---
This glossary defines the terms used throughout RemakeCV and in recruitment CV formatting generally — from ATS and applicant tracking through to OCR, parsing, reading order, anonymisation, credits, acting users and template variants. Each entry is a standalone definition you can read without the surrounding page.

## The terms people look up most

| Term | In one line |
|---|---|
| **ATS** | Software that tracks candidates through hiring — Bullhorn, Vincere, JobAdder |
| **Anonymisation** | Removing identifying details from a CV while keeping the substance |
| **Credit** | One CV processed; covers all later editing and downloading of that CV |
| **OCR** | Reading text from an image, used when a PDF has no text layer |
| **Parsing** | Deciding what extracted text *means* — which part is an employer, a date, a title |
| **Reading order** | The order a human reads a page; PDFs do not store it |
| **Template** | Your agency's CV design, applied to every CV you format |

## Recruitment terms

**ATS (Applicant Tracking System)**
Software that manages candidates through the hiring process — storing records, tracking applications and holding CVs. Bullhorn, Vincere, JobAdder and Mercury are examples. RemakeCV integrates with an ATS rather than replacing it.

**Blind recruitment**
A hiring process in which identifying details are removed from candidate CVs before a hiring manager sees them, to reduce bias. Also called anonymous or blind hiring. See [auto-anonymisation](https://www.remakecv.com/help/anonymisation-and-compliance/auto-anonymisation.md).

**Candidate submission**
The act of sending a formatted candidate CV to a client, usually with a covering message explaining the fit.

**CRM (Candidate Relationship Management)**
Software for managing ongoing relationships with candidates and clients. In recruitment the terms CRM and ATS are often used interchangeably.

**Preferred supplier agreement (PSA)**
An arrangement in which a client works with a defined list of agencies. PSAs frequently specify the CV template submissions must use, which is why [template variants](https://www.remakecv.com/help/templates-and-branding/template-variants.md) exist.

**Shortlist**
The set of candidates an agency puts forward for a role. Consistency across a shortlist is a common reason to use [bulk formatting](https://www.remakecv.com/help/formatting-cvs/bulk-formatting.md).

## CV formatting terms

**Anonymisation**
Removing or replacing identifying information in a CV — name, contact details, employers, institutions — while keeping the substance. Note that anonymised CVs may still be personal data under GDPR if the person remains identifiable.

**Extraction**
Pulling raw text out of a document. The first stage of formatting, before any structure is identified.

**First-person neutralisation**
Rewriting a CV written as "I managed a team" into neutral ("Managed a team") or third-person phrasing. See [first-person neutralisation](https://www.remakecv.com/help/anonymisation-and-compliance/first-person-neutralisation.md).

**OCR (Optical Character Recognition)**
Recognising text in an image. Used when a PDF has no text layer — a scan or a photograph. See [scanned PDFs and OCR](https://www.remakecv.com/help/troubleshooting/scanned-pdfs-and-ocr.md).

**Parsing**
Working out what extracted text *means* — which text is a job title, which is an employer, which is a date range. The stage that turns a wall of text into structured data.

**Processing method**
Whether a CV was read from a text layer (`text`) or via OCR (`image`). Recorded on every processed CV.

**Reading order**
The order a human reads a document. PDFs do not store it, which is why multi-column layouts can extract in a jumbled sequence. See [jumbled and multi-column CVs](https://www.remakecv.com/help/troubleshooting/jumbled-and-multi-column-cvs.md).

**Structured data**
The result of parsing: employers, titles, dates and bullets as discrete fields rather than free text. What gets rendered into a template.

**Text layer**
The machine-readable text inside a PDF. A scanned PDF has none, which is what triggers OCR.

## RemakeCV terms

**Acting user**
The consultant an API request is made on behalf of. Determines template visibility and which credit limits apply. See [authentication](https://www.remakecv.com/help/api-reference/authentication.md).

**Bulk formatting**
Processing several CVs in one batch. Five are processed concurrently and the rest queue. See [bulk formatting](https://www.remakecv.com/help/formatting-cvs/bulk-formatting.md).

**Credit**
The unit of usage. One credit formats one CV, and covers all subsequent editing, anonymising and downloading of that CV. See [how credits and usage work](https://www.remakecv.com/help/getting-started/credits-and-usage.md).

**Custom extraction field**
An agency-specific field extracted from every CV — security clearance, licence category, registration number. See [custom extraction fields](https://www.remakecv.com/help/ai-tools/custom-extraction-fields.md).

**CV storage**
A company-level setting controlling whether processed CVs are retained. When disabled, there is no CV history. See [GDPR and data retention](https://www.remakecv.com/help/anonymisation-and-compliance/gdpr-and-data-retention.md).

**Reprocessing**
Running extraction again on a CV already in the system. Does not consume a credit.

**Shared pool**
A credit allocation shared between a named group of users. See [credits explained](https://www.remakecv.com/help/account-and-billing/credits-explained.md).

**Signed URL**
A time-limited link granting access to a stored file without authentication. Expires — never store or share one. See [`GET /cvs/{cvId}/file`](https://www.remakecv.com/help/api-reference/endpoints/get-cv-file.md).

**Template**
Your agency's CV design: fonts, colours, logo, section order, headings and custom fields. Owned at company level. See [template basics](https://www.remakecv.com/help/templates-and-branding/template-basics.md).

**Template variant**
A version of a template for a specific situation — a client's branding, an anonymised layout, or one without a cover page.

**User limit**
A per-consultant cap on credit usage within a billing cycle. Takes precedence over any shared pool the user also belongs to.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does ATS stand for?

Applicant Tracking System — software that manages candidates through the hiring process, storing records, tracking applications and holding CVs. Bullhorn, Vincere, JobAdder and Mercury are examples.

### What is the difference between extraction and parsing?

Extraction pulls raw text out of a document. Parsing works out what that text means — which part is a job title, which is an employer, which is a date range. Extraction comes first.

### What is a credit in RemakeCV?

One credit formats one CV, and covers all subsequent editing, anonymising, summarising and downloading of that CV. Reprocessing does not consume a second credit.

### What is blind recruitment?

A hiring process in which identifying details are removed from candidate CVs before a hiring manager sees them, to reduce bias. Also called anonymous or blind hiring.