Does it seem that no matter how many times you apply for a job, no one ever gets back to you? If recruiters aren’t seeing your resume, it could not be because of your qualifications or experience but because it isn’t ATS-friendly.
Applicant Tracking System, or ATS for short, is software that helps businesses sort through resumes. When dealing with hundreds of applications every day, it’s quite beneficial for recruiters. However, it may be a major hassle for job searchers who aren’t familiar with the process.
Lauren Wethers, a career counselor at Muse, adds, “ATS-friendly resumes get reviewed.” “Unformatted resumes run the risk of being lost in cyberspace.”
Now you should be aware of this: 1) This technology has been around for a while, but it has just lately become popular, so you’re not alone in being a little confused about it. 2) Relax; making resumes that work with applicant tracking systems is easy. Simply adhere to our detailed instructions.
Explain what an ATS is and how it operates
One piece of automation software that can swiftly sort and scan a lot of resumes is an applicant tracking system, or ATS. By using applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen the first wave of resumes before they reach human hands, businesses may save time and money compared to manually doing this work.
The scanning method is really simple: an applicant tracking system (ATS) checks for matching education, job titles, and abilities to the advertised position. It usually makes use of terms found in the job posting and list of prerequisites. Your chances of being chosen increase as the degree to which your CV is a match.
What is t “ATS-friendly”?
An application tracking system (ATS)-friendly resume is one that is customized to fit a particular job opening by using keywords that are related to the position’s criteria and description. However, it is not sufficient to just copy and paste the keywords into a specific area; they must to be organically interwoven throughout the whole resume.
Just to give you an idea, let’s pretend there’s an ad for a customer service job that specifies two years of hands-on experience, the ability to retain clients, and excellent communication skills. These particular keywords should be included in the summary, job history, and skills parts of a resume in order for it to be compatible with applicant tracking systems.
And that’s not all: the way an applicant tracking system (ATS) reads your resume depends on its structure. Use basic resume templates with regular fonts, colors, and sizes; stay away from graphics. The less complicated it is, the better, as an ATS isn’t a sentient entity that goes through the same mental processes as humans.
The 6-Step Process for Making Your Resume ATS-Friendly
Companies of all sizes and in all sectors are using applicant tracking systems (ATS). It’s safe to assume that any business that accepts resumes via job boards or “work with us” pages also employs ATS. Even resumes sent via LinkedIn’s own platform go via an applicant tracking system (ATS), the company claims.
According to Wethers, even if you are an ideal applicant, the algorithm will not recognize your resume if it is not correctly structured or contains the appropriate keywords. Learning how to modify your resume for these devices is, then, of the utmost importance.
1. Select a resume template that is compatible with applicant tracking systems
When you’re not sure how to construct your resume from beginning, it’s best to choose an ATS-friendly template. Less is more, so keep your resume simple by excluding unnecessary components like headings, footers, columns, charts, and pictures. Since certain systems can only handle plain text, this facilitates reading and scanning by the ATS.
To minimize congestion, give your résumé at least one inch of space on each side. You can write a two-page resume if you need to, but ATSs normally don’t care about its length. Pay close attention to only provide details that are pertinent to your application. Even after passing the ATS, a human recruiter may still find inappropriate material on your CV and reject you.
Shown below is an ATS-friendly resume template. Obtain it from the link and complete it with your details. Select File > Make a copy when you open the file, and then save it to your own disk.
2. Indicate by name each area of the résumé.
Now is not the moment to show imagination. In order for the applicant tracking system (ATS) to read your resume, each part must be clearly labeled. Label relevant sections with descriptive words and phrases such as “Education,” “Professional Experience,” “Summary,” and “Volunteer Work” to ensure clarity and simplicity.
3. Incorporate job posting keywords
To make your CV more relevant to applicant tracking systems, it is essential to include keywords directly from the job description to describe your background, achievements, and abilities. The more often they are on your CV, the higher it will rank, according to Wethers.
Find the right terms that the company uses to describe the position, then utilize them. Use a combination of the exact and modified keywords from the job description to improve your chances of being picked by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and databases that search for precise matches. (This is the proper method to read a job description.)
Envision a position where a firm is seeking an individual with expertise in event planning. Just because your résumé says “event planner” doesn’t mean it will get you the job. There are systems that can just look for a single item, according to Wethers. “Thus, you may not appear in their search results if they use the term ‘event planning’ rather than ‘event planner,’ but that is the only word that appears on your resume.”
The same holds true for degree or certification titles. For example, when abbreviating “Bachelor of Science in accounting,” it is important to include both the abbreviation and the complete name. One might go in the schooling part and the other in the summary of your resume, or the other way around.
4. If needed, provide a talents section.
Use a skills section as an alternative to the resume summary, work history, and education sections if you’re having trouble getting relevant keywords to appear in all three. The goal, according to Wethers, is to avoid seeming forceful when repeating buzzwords. “For a recruiter perusing your résumé, it gives a fantastic snapshot of your skills.”
5. Pick out a typeface and size that will work well with applicant tracking systems.
Another crucial aspect of a resume format that is ATS-friendly is the typeface and font size. Use just Arial, Calibri, Cambria, or Garamond, which are basic, easy-to-read typefaces. Do not use artsy or cursive fonts.
Regular text should be set to 11 or 12 points in font size, whereas titles should be set to 14 to 16 points. Use bold, italics, and underlining when needed (for example, to separate a title from plain text), but don’t feel constrained by any rules about doing so.
6. Please provide the proper archive format.
The recommendation from Wethers is to save your resume as a PDF, particularly if you want to maintain the layout. “When saved as a.doc or.docx file, documents may lose their formatting and become difficult to read in an ATS text box.”
Having said that, there are businesses that insist on a certain file type. When it applies to you, send in your résumé using that format. Get three separate PDFs of your CV ready to go; this will save time and effort.
Adding your name to the file’s save location is also important. For instance, you may use resume-jane-smith.docx or resume-jane-smith-sales.docx, or a variant thereof. Make sure it’s professional since hiring managers can view it.
Tips for Writing a Resume That Stands Out in an ATS
learning what not to do is just as crucial as learning how to create an application tracking system (ATS)-friendly CV in order to avoid hurting your chances of being chosen.
A person should never intentionally mislead the ATS.
A lot of people on the internet have shared strategies for getting past the applicant tracking system (ATS), such as paraphrasing the whole job description or using white space to “invisible” a keyword portion in your resume. However, the tracking mechanism is grossly underappreciated by these hackers.
Even if the applicant tracking system (ATS) misses these instances of dishonesty, the hiring managers will undoubtedly catch on. Wethers warns against cheating the applicant tracking system (ATS) by using tactics like hiding keywords in white writing on resumes. “Your résumé will probably get thrown out when it shows up on the backend.”
Use keywords sparingly.
Another typical blunder, and an effort to trick the ATS, is using too many keywords. Wethers warns against “that doesn’t mean stuffing your resume with keywords where they don’t make sense” when referring to resumes, despite the fact that such wording should match that of the job posting. Do not overuse keywords; instead, include them only when they are relevant.
How can you tell whether your resume is optimized for applicant tracking systems?
You may make use of artificial intelligence (AI) to your advantage by checking whether your resume is ATS-friendly. To see whether your CV is ATS-friendly, you may simply copy and paste it into Chat-GPT. Based on the job description, you may also ask the AI for editing or addition ideas.
As an additional choice, you may consult a career counselor that specializes in resume writing. Many career coaches are also well-versed in HR practices and the latest recruiting tools. Those who have been looking for jobs for a long without success might greatly benefit from their thoughts on recruitment, resume writing, and application processes.
