How to Pass Through an Applicant Tracking Systems - ATS
As our guide to what an applicant tracking system highlighted, applicant tracking systems are a key part of the recruitment process, and as such it is vital for those in the job search process to be sure that their resume can be read by the ATS and to ensure that they make sure that the content of it stands out when passed through in order to avoid being rejected by the system.
It is thought that applicant tracking systems reject up to 75% of CVs which pass through them, meaning that in order to stand out in a competitive market a resume must be optimised to get through this stage in order to be seen by a decision maker within the business in terms of your employment.
An applicant tracking system works like a search engine, in terms of returning the most relevant results to the parameters set up by the hiring manager. As such it is key to ensure that a resume is optimised to successfully pass through an ATS. This principal is similar to that of SEO (search engine optimisation) for a website, in order to ensure that it can be found within search engine results pages. Therefore you need to consider the following in order to ensure your resume passes through an ATS
There are a lot of aspects to consider when it comes to writing a resume which is likely to have to pass through applicant tracking systems, whether that is within a recruitment agency or within a business hiring. If you’re worried that you don’t have enough experience to create a resume that will pass through an applicant tracking system, then it is worth using a CV writing company, in order to get a professionally written CV which will pass through an applicant tracking system.
As our guide to what an applicant tracking system highlighted, applicant tracking systems are a key part of the recruitment process, and as such it is vital for those in the job search process to be sure that their resume can be read by the ATS and to ensure that they make sure that the content of it stands out when passed through in order to avoid being rejected by the system.
It is thought that applicant tracking systems reject up to 75% of CVs which pass through them, meaning that in order to stand out in a competitive market a resume must be optimised to get through this stage in order to be seen by a decision maker within the business in terms of your employment.
An applicant tracking system works like a search engine, in terms of returning the most relevant results to the parameters set up by the hiring manager. As such it is key to ensure that a resume is optimised to successfully pass through an ATS. This principal is similar to that of SEO (search engine optimisation) for a website, in order to ensure that it can be found within search engine results pages. Therefore you need to consider the following in order to ensure your resume passes through an ATS
- Keywords - whenever you make a query on a search engine such as google, the phrase you enter is known as a keyword. These keywords are used by recruiters and hiring managers to identify their required skills and qualifications - an ATS will attempt to find keywords within a resume. With this in mind, having the right keywords within your resume is vital to ensure that they pass an ATS. However, the keywords involved within recruiting and across industries are always evolving - this is often the time to enlist the help of a professional resume writer. If this is not a step you are ready or willing to take, then researching job descriptions within your industry can help you find the right terms to add to your resume. The same role within two different types of business can have different keywords, which means research is key prior to applying for a role.
- Job titles - in terms of job titles used within your resume, going with industry standard terms, rather than quirky terms such as ‘marketing ninja’ or ‘digital guru’ which may not even make sense to a human reader, and will have no meaning to an ATS. Looking at the job you’re applying for and tailoring the content of your resume to this in order to meet the criteria that the recruiters are looking for will help you pass through the system.
- Relevant skills and experience - as mentioned previously, an applicant tracking system is designed to scan the content of a CV and pick out key details which are relevant to the parameters of the search. Where there are tangible outcomes of something you have done within a role, these should be highlighted. Measurable successes and achievements are appealing to prospective employers. In terms of skills, relevant skills to the industry and role should be included, however ‘team player’, ‘good listener’ and ‘great time keeper’ are not going to be the kind of skills a recruiter is looking for when filtering applicants. The more specific to the role and industry your skills and achievements, the better.
- Consistency - a general rule should be that your CV and LinkedIn are consistent, both in terms of the content from a timeline perspective, and in terms of the type of keywords used the two should have similar keywords, as LinkedIn’s search function works in the same fashion, therefore relevant and having your details in place which match those on your resume
- Qualifications - it is important to include any relevant qualifications for your role that you have within your resume. For example any AAT or ACCA qualifications for those working in finance, or qualifications relating to any software that you may have to use for the role. It is key to ensure that both the acronym and the full name are included, in order to ensure you have the best possible chance of passing through applicant tracking systems.
- Formatting - the format of your resume can have an impact on how an ATS will react to it. If it has graphics or logos then it will not pass through, save for bullet points. Photos are not a necessary feature on a resume and as such this will also impact the way the ATS reacts. Fonts which can corrupt or are not widely used can also cause rejection as they are not widely readable.
There are a lot of aspects to consider when it comes to writing a resume which is likely to have to pass through applicant tracking systems, whether that is within a recruitment agency or within a business hiring. If you’re worried that you don’t have enough experience to create a resume that will pass through an applicant tracking system, then it is worth using a CV writing company, in order to get a professionally written CV which will pass through an applicant tracking system.