Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is the silent enemy of most job seekers, the gatekeepers of job applications, ATS is a program that checks resumes and removes applications it deems unacceptable before a recruiter can even glance at the name on the title.
ATS has been created to make the recruiters' life more manageable, however in saying that the system struggles with resumes that are not submitted in the ATS favourable format and will often remove a great applicant if their resume is not provided in a format that ATS can efficiently read.
So how does an applicant go about beating the applicant tracking system?
The ATS struggles reading any documents other than Word Doc or plain text files. Submitting a clean resume layout in PDF format may be more appealing to the recruiter, but it is often less likely to even make it past the ATS. Try and create a resume using a word doc format that will be both functional for ATS and appealing for the recruiter.
In Australia, we do not put photo’s on our resumes if applying for a job here in Aus keep your resume free of headshots unless you are applying for an acting gig (which is a whole different kettle of fish). Also, skip the graphics and bar charts that display the level of experience you have, the ATS cannot compute the bar chart that displays the 2/3rds bar completion you have in Excel spreadsheet experience. Stick to written information in easy to read dot points.
Stick to an easy to read font (Calibri is a solid choice) and avoid more two total fonts, bold font for your name and each section title and then a separate clear font for the text. Avoid crazy colours, blue is always a calming option but try to keep either just the heading section or one column coloured. The more colour you add, the less likely the ATS will view your resume.
Don’t place any of your contact information in the header, list all your information in the column section of your resume as anything in the header is often missed by the ATS. It may take up more space in your resume, but it also means you are more likely to be contacted.
Don’t try and be creative with your section headings, the ATS will be programmed to search for the most straightforward options:
Education / Schooling
Work Experience / Job History
Contact Information / Social Media Profile
Skills / Qualifications
Don’t title your Education something silly Previous College Placements is not going to be picked up by the ATS.
The ATS will scan for relevant Keywords; however, it can also pick up the volume of words used. If you throw ten keywords in the one two-line sentence, the ATS will notice, and your resume will be discarded. Be smart with the words that you do use, ensure that they are listed on the job application but don’t overdo it.
What are your thoughts on ATS?
Do you have any suggestions to beat the system?
Leave a comment down below and let the team at Hunting Hired know your thoughts.
