Did you know that it is not a human that first sees your resume when you apply online, but a software platform? It’s called The Applicant Tracking System. It first appeared around 1998/1999 and is used by many companies and organizations to sort and read your resume first, before a human lays eyes on it.

 

The ATS reads your resume and gives it an overall score related to the relevance of your experience to the job listed. So how do you make that initial cut and get a call for a telephone or an in-person interview? Follow these guidelines.

 

1. ATS software varies so it is best to create your resume using Word and save it as .docx. Sometimes the application will require you to have your resume in a particular format – make sure you adhere to those guidelines. Upload your resume as a PDF to ensure that it is viewed as it was created. Sometimes using Word can result in formatting errors on the employer’s side.

 

2. Avoid cutting and pasting your resume if given the choice. Upload your resume to ensure it will remain in an attractive format.

 

3. Recruiters filter resumes through an ATS by searching for key skills and titles. To be sure that your resume isn’t filtered out, customize your resume with the title of the position for which you are applying. This is easy to do. For example, instead of Marketing Assistant, tailor the title to Entry Level Brand Representative as listed in the job announcement. Add words from the job description to your resume.

 

4. Provide your contact information, name, email, and phone number in the body of the resume – never as a header or footer.

 

5. Here is a very critical part! Always review the announcement and make sure you have the key phrases and skills in your resume, i.e. “strong communication skills,” “problem-solving skills,” “CRM,” “ISACA-certified.”

 

6. Avoid using text boxes, images and graphics because the ATS might not be able to read the items.

 

As technology advances, so must your approach to job-hunting. Don’t be intimidated by the ATS – with these tips, you can work with it to land the job of your dreams.