Is Your Resume ATS Friendly?
If you have submitted your resume and cover letter on a company website or job board, you are familiar with applicant tracking system (ATS) software. Many companies utilize the ATS because it allows them to filter applications based on customized needs, using the software to help review resumes and cover letters.
On your end, you create an account, upload the requested documents - maybe fill out a form - then click submit. On the back end, your resume and cover letter are scanned for particular information that the company is using to identify potential candidates. Not all ATS software is the same, but there are a few things you can do to help you put your best foot forward.
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Use the Traditional Resume Format
By this, I mean use the familiar reverse chronological format, with your most recent experience at the top.
Trust me, I thought that the functional resume was cool for a bit, then I started submitting my resume online. Suddenly, I was experiencing the pain of parsing out each bullet point so it fit the ATSs traditional format anyway! Ask yourself if it's worth it to make your application submission more tedious than it needs to be.
This experience also helped me see that, though resume formatting can be creative, many employers are still using the tried and true format that they’re used to. If you are chosen to interview for a role, you don’t want your interviewer to be caught off guard by your unconventional formatting.
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Rethink That Cool Design Template
You know those resumes with cool formatting and design?
They have icons of phones, email envelopes, etc. for the information section.
They use circles to rank skill proficiency. (What do those even mean?)
There may even be an abstract shape somewhere.
You have to remember that the ATS doesn't read your resume with the nuance that a person can - there are specific, pre-determined pieces of information that it is looking for. If your eye-catching icons get turned into difficult-to-scan characters, your resume is likely pulled out of the running whether you are qualified or not.
Yes, this includes tables and columns as well. Whether the lines or visible or not, they can cause weird formatting issues.
And, again, it’s a huge pain in the butt to have to manually copy and paste information from the document into any mandatory application fields.
Test it Out
One way to make sure your resume is ATS friendly is to copy the entire formatted document and paste it as plain text. How does the formatting change? Do weird characters pop up? The ATS is likely reading that. Make your changes as needed!
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Use the Right Language
You definitely want to consider the individual keywords that you’re using, but you want to take advantage of all opportunities to ensure that all language in your resume is tailored to the position
Are there keyword phrases that regularly pop up in the job posting?
Is there certain industry terminology being used?
Are there specific programs (“Microsoft Office” or, specifically, “Microsoft Word) that are listed?
Use the job posting's keywords, phrases, and phrasing when submitting your application. If the posting says “collaborate” make sure to use that word in your resume.
Remember that your resume is about helping you get an interview. You want to make it as easy as possible for the company to decide they want to meet you. Implementing these tips will help!
