Not even most of the job seekers understand the fact that it is possible their resumes may never be read by a human being. That’s because companies often use something called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter resumes. I was always on the side that believed that only HR people read resumes, but soon I realized that unless a resume can go through the ATS system, it is going to be disregarded before anyone even looks at it. In this blog, I will take you through the process of how I learned to beat the ATS and came up with resumes that actually work.
What is an ATS, and why does it matter?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a type of software that companies use to manage job applications. It has the ability to scan keywords, the format, and mentions of the experience related to the job before a recruiter even opens it. I discovered that even a very talented applicant could just have their resume thrown away the minute it is not optimized for this system.
Many individuals take the help of free templates put online, and find that most ATS software cannot read a fancy design or images. They seek simple and clean formats and keywords in place. Accordingly, I gave up on overly-designed templates and laid more emphasis on delivering a resume with proper keywords, plain sections, and proper formats of files.
Start with the Right Format
I also used to enjoy making resumes beautiful when I started writing them. However, I soon learned that ATS systems like simple formats. It is good to use fonts such as Arial or Calibri and to avoid columns, tables, or graphics. I also got to know that a Word document (.docx) works better compared to a PDF unless a company requires that a file be in the PDF format.
In case you are not confident, such tools as Zety Resume Builder can assist you in keeping to the ATS-optimized designs, and some of them provide feedback concerning formatting matters before the time you apply. I myself find now it is better to make a resume using Word and maintain a free hand over the format.
Use Keywords Like a Pro
Passing an ATS comes down to the inclusion of the correct keywords: applicants must have keywords found in the job description. The next thing I do when applying to a job is to read the listing carefully and look up particular words, “project management”, “data analysis”, or “customer service”. Once I refer to those very terms in my resume.
One tool that helped me get better at this is Jobscan, which compares my resume against a job description and shows which keywords I’m missing. Since I began employing this method, the rate of response to my applications has begun to pick up.
Write Clearly About Your Work
Whenever I talk about my work experience, I aim to be straightforward and precise. An example of this will be the fact that though I used to write down the handle reports, now I write down that I created weekly sales reports using Excel in order to monitor the revenue of the company. The specific I am, the better the ATS is at visualizing my abilities.
ATS bots do not like abbreviations in the resumes; they rather like the entire words; therefore, I would always mention the full words of a specific degree like the Bachelor of Computer Applications rather than mentioning BCA unless both forms are normally used in the industry. I also discovered that old jobs use past tense verbs and current jobs use present tense, thus the grammar is easier to read and follow.
Use Sections That Make Sense to Bots
I format my resume in easy sections such as: Summary, Skills, Work Experience, Education, and Certifications. Such are the words that the ATS software is programmed to search and scan. Beginning my sections with clever titles such as, Where I Studied or Things I Can Do, was my past approach to this problem, but this was wrong. ATS did not know those titles well, and it did not help my case.
In addition, make these section titles simple and consistent. Never conceal your contact details and use strange icons. I also ensure my contact information is not within a text box, as some of these ATS tools fail to interpret text content within a shape or image.
Tailor Each Resume You Send
This was the most significant step on my part. Previously, I used to forward the same resume to all companies. Today, I altered some lines in each of them according to the job posting. I can drag some of the keywords up or rephrase a job to a better fit for the job requirements.
Even though it is longer, it is worth putting in effort on each resume since it jump-started the number of interview calls that I got. Moreover, assessment tools such as Resumeworded enabled me to understand how best my resume was fitted to the respective jobs.
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Practice Before Applying
Before sending my resume to real companies, I tested it using SkillSyncer and other ATS resume checkers. These apps helped me with understanding how easy it was to read, how well my keywords matched the content, and how well it was formatted. Practicing made me have a better feeling of what I was sending.
I additionally requested friends and mentors to proofread my resume, not only for grammar but also for its readability and its relevancy to the position I desired. Two sets of eyes are always useful to locate mistakes that I may not find.
Final Tips That Helped Me Succeed
You might think about writing your resume so that a robot will be able to examine it, not a human person. The ATS is that. Besides giving yourself a good edge of being noticed, you are also saving the recruiter the time it would have taken them to go through a tangle-free layout, accurate keywords about yourself, and understandable outlines.
I also keep every copy of my resume as job title in the name of the file, using customer service or resume as an example I would have it as, customer service resume.docx. This is useful in determining which version I used where.
Conclusion
Cracking the ATS system does not imply fooling the robots. It is about talking their language. As soon as I began to comprehend that, it was so much easier to come up with resumes that passed through successfully and received invites to an interview. You can do it if I can do it. Some patience, the proper tools, and some practice are required. Stop guessing by using some tools that can make you a smarter writer. It is not only to pass a robot, but to convince a human being who is going to read your resume next.
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FAQs
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What is an ATS-friendly resume format?
An ATS-friendly resume uses simple fonts, no images or graphics, and clear section headings like “Experience” and “Skills.” Word documents are usually better than PDFs. -
How do I know which keywords to use in my resume?
Look at the job post and use the same terms they mention. Tools like Jobscan can also help find important keywords you might be missing. -
Can I still get hired if my resume isn’t ATS-optimized?
Yes, but the chances are lower. Many big companies filter resumes using ATS before a recruiter even sees them. -
Should I use free resume templates from online sites?
You can, but make sure they are ATS-friendly. Some templates with graphics or columns might confuse the system. -
How many versions of my resume should I keep?
Keep one main version and tailor it slightly for each job you apply for. Save each version with the job title in the file name to stay organized.
