Just when you thought you were getting the hang of this job search thing, something new comes along. So you made your resume nice and pretty for the employer to view it, but what you don't realize is that your nice and pretty resume didn't even make it to the hiring managers desk. The resume was blocked by a computer tracking system called " Applicant Tracking System." This system will determine if your resume is qualified to move to the next level that is, the hiring managers desk or email. So how do you get pass this robot, which obviously has nothing better to do other than, disregard your well prepared and perfectly crafted resume? Simple, like most computer systems it is programmed to look for certain criteria. If it sees the criteria that it is looking for in your resume, then you are in there! Below are some do's and don't's when submitting your resume online to a company that utilizes ATS.
Do's
Use the exact job title of the position that you are applying for in your resume.
Use standard resume headings like Summary, Work History, Education, and Skills.
Use the following fonts;Arial, Courier, or Times New Roman, fancy fonts will reject.
Use keywords that are found in the job description and use them in the proper context.
Use spell check before you submit your resume, ATS will not recognize misspelled words.
Don'ts
Do not go overboard with the keywords.
Do not list your credentials (MBA, CPA, etc.) next to your name.
Do not use a customized header in Microsoft Word, create your own.
Do not include skills that you do not have in order to trick the system.
Do not use templates, instead use a regular word document and save in doc format.
Now that we have some rules and guidelines for the ATS system, the next thing is to know when a company is utilizing the system, so you can format your resume accordingly. Unfortunately, we don't know which companies are using the system and which are not. It used to be just the major corporations taking advantage of this new system, because of the influx of applications they received on a daily basis, but now the even smaller businesses have caught on. The good news is that applicants have a system at their disposal that they can utilize to ensure that their resume is ATS approved. This system is called Jobscan, and it is located at Jobscan.com.
If you are still unsure if your resume is ATS ready, consult with a professional resume writer, such as myself. Visit us at urresumeurfuture.com