CON-05 — Inconsistent date formats
Short answer
CON-05 counts how many distinct date patterns the CV uses. When "03/2022", "March 2022", "2022" and "Mar ’22" mix in one document, the ATS date parser leaves what it cannot recognise empty and your total years of experience are computed wrong.
Mixed
- 03/2022 - 06/2024
- March 2022 – June 2024
- 2022 - 2024
Consistent
- Mar 2022 – Jun 2024
- Jul 2024 – Present
Impact
9 pts
Penalty
content · high
What it checks
- Date pattern families detected in the document
- Ranges that carry only a year
- Use of "Present" for ongoing roles
Why it matters
ATS date parsers look for specific patterns and blank out the rest, so total experience is miscalculated and you fail experience filters. Year-only dates also read as hiding gaps.
How to fix it
Convert every date to one format: "Mon YYYY – Mon YYYY", and "Mon YYYY – Present" for current roles. Do not include days.
Frequently asked questions
Which format is safest?
"Mon YYYY – Mon YYYY", with "Present" for the current role. Stay on one pattern throughout.
Related rules
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