Writing a resume to get past the applicant tracking systems (ATS)

As job seekers, you might be feeling like your submitted resume is getting lost in a black hole rather than being seen by recruiters.  This is partly true since most resumes don’t directly go to a recruiter or hiring manager since they’re 1st processed through an applicant tracking system (ATS).

But, you want to get your resume seen by hiring managers so you land the interview.

Which is why you need to design your resume with 2 audiences in mind: the ATS software and the hiring manager (who will eventually review your resume). 

What is the applicant tracking system (ATS)?

ATS is a system many companies use to help recruiters organize and narrow their search for qualified applicants, so they don’t have to read through hundreds of resumes. 

Jobscan says, “Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS program, which means there’s a good chance your resume will be up against ATS before it ever lands on the eyes of an actual human.”

 So, let’s dive in so you understand:

·        How ATS works

·        The best tips to make sure your resume makes it through ATS;

·        How to design your resume with ATS in mind; and

·        How you can stand out to land the interview

How does the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)work?

 ATS sorts through resumes based on how well it aligns with the job requirements.  It scans for keywords such as skills, job titles, education, or phrases and then ranks all the candidates. 

Recruiters then evaluate the applicant pool and decide who moves forward to get an interview.

Tips to Get your Resume past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Apply to jobs you qualify for

Before applying, review the job description to make sure you’re qualified for the role based on your work experience, skills, and requirements. Because ATS is going to scan for specific keywords, and if you don’t have that experience, you will not make it through. 

For example, let’s say you’re applying for a Director of Finance role, but you’re resume only shows your previous experience as a Teacher. Without tailoring your resume and listing the transferable skills, the system will see you as not qualified. 

Tip: This doesn’t mean you have to hit every job qualification and be a 100% match to apply, but it does mean you need to show your transferable skills so you’re not wasting your time. 

Be selective on the number of jobs you apply for at one company

With ATS, recruiters see all the different roles you applied to at their company. So, if you’re applying to multiple jobs at the same company, you just want to be selective. 

Because applying to too many positions or different positions can make recruiters feel like you don’t know what you want for your next role. 

For example, applying to an entry-level position and a director-level position or a sales position and a video-editing position might be confusing since they’re different roles.

However, if a company has two similar roles open, you can apply to both; just make sure you tailor your resume.

 How to Design Your Resume to Get past ATS

Tailor Your Resume with Keywords  

Create your resume to easily show how your skills and qualifications match what they are looking for.  Do this by reviewing the job description for specific keywords of skills, qualifications, experience, or qualities most important for performing the job (which is what the ATS will be scanning for). 

For example, depending on your industry, certain degrees or certifications may be important, or skills such as software, etc. 

Format your resume for ATS (Make it simple and clear)

 Avoid:

• Charts, graphs, text boxes, graphics, special fonts, or other visuals

• Acronyms

• Creative headings- (Makes it hard for ATS to sort through)

• Headers and footers- (Sometimes get dropped by ATS or cut off)

• Saving file in PDF- (ATS might have a hard time reading PDF’s and only view these documents as one large image)

Make sure to follow instructions regarding the application process. If they ask for a file a certain way, send it to them that way, just preview it before saving and sending over.

You can use:

• Bold, Italics, Underline

• Simple universal fonts: Calibri, Arial, Cambria, Helvetica, Tahoma, Veranda, Garamond, Georgia, or Times new Roman.

• Colors: ATS will return all text in the same color, so make sure your color choices aren’t confusing to understanding the text of your resume.

• Written out acronyms- (Example: Experienced in search engine optimization (SEO))

• Conventional Headings: to make it easy for ATS to sort (Education, Work experience, technical skills)

• Saving file in word

Don’t Trick the ATS

You might hear people tell you to trick the ATS, by pasting keywords or the job description in white, but DON’T do this. 

The ATS will display all text in the same color, so (even if it gets through), the recruiter will see what you did and reject your application.

Final Thoughts:

Recruiters and hiring managers spend less than 6 seconds to review resumes, so you only have a brief moment to make your most valued skills and qualifications stand out on the page.

Think of the system of as a human.  If at first glance, a person reviewing your resume can’t see why you’re a great fit for the role, then why would the system? That’s why, it’s your job when creating your resume to make it easy for the system and a recruiter at quick glance or scan to see you as a perfect fit!

You got this!

-Melody Joy