How to Outsmart Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Update Resume for ATS

You’ve crafted a killer resume and applied for the perfect position, but it’s been weeks since you’ve had any feedback. Now you’re wondering what went wrong because you didn’t receive an invitation to interview from the company. It’s not them neither is it you; it’s probably the applicant tracking systems (ATS).

More so than ever, many employers and recruiters now rely on an ATS to help them screen candidates for their job openings. They’re aimed at helping employers save time by sorting and keeping track of the overwhelming number of applications they receive.

How to optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems

If you’re looking to get past the bots and receive that call from your potential employer, run through these tips and apply each one to your resume.

Use the right keywords

Keywords are the name of the employment games today as ATS rely on keywords to pick out the most relevant resumes. One of the key ways to ensure your resume proceeds to the next stage is to use the exact same language the employer used in their job posting. The job posting gives hints and clues into words and phrases an ATS is likely to be screening for, so make sure you type the keywords multiple times into your resume. To avoid keyword stuffing, use synonyms of the keywords, some ATS are advanced enough to detect related keywords.

Avoid headers and footers

Many candidates like to put their name, address, or contact information in the header or footer of their resume due to its aesthetic appeal but most versions of ATS can’t scan content that appears there. If the ATS is unable to read the information in the header and footer of your document, it could filter out your application due to missing information.

Scrap the visuals

Visuals can help make any document eye-catching to a human reader, but it’s not so with ATS. Once an ATS receives your resume, it strips out all formatting and converts your document to plain, boring text. Photos, graphs, images, and tables can confuse an ATS because its algorithm lets it read-only texts. Keep things simple and save the creativity for a later stage.

Watch out for slang, abbreviation, and spelling

Be careful about including slang and abbreviations as most ATS systems can only recognize formal and professional words. Slang like “pro” and “hustle” are not recognizable by ATS and won’t work to your advantage. Using abbreviations like “B of A” instead “Bank of America” should be avoided as well. Additionally, make sure you spell all words correctly and then have a friend proofread for typos.

Conclusion

Applicant tracking systems can weed out qualified candidates since there’s only so much they can do when it comes to reading resumes and matching people. It’s always best to outsmart the systems rather than fighting it. Implementing the tips above can help you use this new hiring trend to your advantage.