What’s an ATS-friendly Resume, and It Wins You Jobs [Pic]

Do you feel your resume is getting rejected for no reason even though you have all the qualifications and experience for the job? Chances are it isn’t about you, it’s about the way you format your resume that’s making your job search harder.

In today’s digital age, crafting an ATS-compliant resume can mean landing your dream job or getting lost in the sea of applicants. Applicant Tracking System, or ATS—is a tool used by employers to filter, rank, and manage applications. With more and more hiring agencies streamlining their hiring processes, creating a system-compatible resume is critical.

Infographic: ATS-friendly resume

What is ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a software application used by employers and recruiters to manage their recruitment process. It’s kind of the first hurdle to sort through hundreds or thousands of resumes. It helps employers streamline their hiring efforts and identify the most qualified candidates quickly.

Apart from bringing efficiency to the hiring process, ATS solutions help employers comply with labor laws to maintain a detailed record of the hiring process.

How does ATS work and why it’s critical for you to understand this process?

ATS software scans and parses all the resumes received for a job opening. It extracts information such as work experience, education, skills, and other relevant details – creating a database, where this information can be easily searched by a person (HR person!). Here’s the important part – the ATS system uses algorithms to rank resumes according to how well they match the job description, often highlighting keywords and phrases that are most relevant to the position.

That means if you want your resume to rank higher for a desired job then your resume must suit the ATS system.

Importance of creating an ATS-Compatible Resume

• 99% of all Fortune 500 companies use ATS software for their initial screening.
• 70% of large companies use ATS software.
• 75% of recruiters use an ATS or another tech-driven recruiting tool.

This data suggests the job you want is probably behind an ATS software. So you must craft your resume as per the desired format. This also means

that if you don’t optimize for ATS then your resume may never reach a human recruiter. Thus this significantly reduces your chances of securing an interview.

Importance of optimizing your resume for the ATS software

Optimizing your resume for ATS is crucial for several reasons:

• Increased Visibility: An ATS-friendly resume is more likely to be ranked higher and reviewed by human recruiters.
• Better Matching: A properly formatted resume with relevant keywords ensures that your skills and experiences align with the job description, increasing the chances of progressing to the next stage.
• Compliance and Retention: ATS systems often store resumes for future openings, so a compliant resume can keep you in consideration for multiple positions over time.

How Non-ATS-Friendly Resumes Can Get Rejected

Resumes that do not adhere to ATS standards often face automatic rejection. Common issues include:

• Improper Formatting: If you use images, complex graphics, or non-standard fonts then your resume will have dashes and strange characters. It basically means your qualifications and experiences cannot be read.
• Lack of Keywords: Do you know that ATS is programmed to identify job-specific keywords and phrases? So if you miss them then you’ll miss to cross the first hurdle.
• Incorrect File Formats: Submitting resumes in formats such as .jpg or .png instead of .docx or .pdf means software can’t read a thing you have on your resume.

What are the Key Elements of an ATS-optimized resume

Here’s what a good resume should have, along with why and how to create it:

• Use the standard fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri
  • Because these fonts are easily readable by ATS software, which ensures your information is correctly parsed.
• Avoid images, charts, or fancy graphics
  • ATS systems cannot read or interpret images, charts, or elaborate graphics.
  • Instead of images, use a simple bulleted list.
• Consistent Headings and Bullet Points
  • Consistency helps accurately categorize information.
  • E.g. use clear headings like “Work Experience” and “Education”.
• Importance of using job-specific keywords
  • ATS software scans for keywords that match the job description. Including these keywords increases the chances of your resume being flagged as a good match.
  • Example: If a job description emphasizes “project management,” ensure you put this exact phrase in your resume.
• How to Find Relevant Keywords
  • Analyze the job listings and highlight frequently used terms and phrases.
  • Example: For a marketing position, keywords might include “SEO,” “content strategy,” and “digital marketing.”
• Clear and Concise Content
  • Instead of a lengthy paragraph, use concise bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements.
• Avoiding Excessive Jargon
  • While some industry-specific terms are important, excessive jargon can make your resume difficult to read.
  • Use clear language that emphasizes your skills and achievements.

Tips on Building and Testing Your Resume

ATS Resume Builders and Checkers

Here are some of the tools that will help you build your ATS-complaint resume:

• Jobscan: An online tool that compares your resume against job descriptions, providing detailed feedback on how to optimize for ATS.
• Resume Worded: Offers insights and suggestions to improve your resume’s content and format for better ATS compatibility.
• Rezi: A resume builder specifically designed to create ATS-friendly resumes, offering templates and keyword suggestions.

Apart from these tools check in with your peers or professionals to gain feedback on your resume writing. Believe it or not, with valuable insights you can fine-tune your resume for recruiters like crazy.

Recommendations for Resume Templates

Use this software to build your resume:

• Google Docs: Features free resume templates that are straightforward and ATS-friendly.
• Microsoft Word: Offers a variety of clean, ATS-compatible templates that you can customize.
• ALERT: Canva resume templates are NOT ATS-friendly even though they are cute.

Use Online ATS Checkers

Finally, before submitting your resume, it’s a good idea to test it using online ATS checkers. These tools simulate how an ATS scans your resume, providing insights into its compatibility and areas for improvement.

Conclusion

Regularly updating your resume ensures that all information is current and relevant to your career goals. Set a reminder to review and update your resume every few months or after significant career milestones, such as a new job, promotion, or completed project. This practice helps you present the most accurate and impressive version of your professional self to potential employers.

Apart from this continuous refinement based on feedback and results from your job applications can significantly improve your resume’s effectiveness. Gather feedback from colleagues, mentors, or professional resume reviewers. Analyze the success rate of your applications and adjust your resume accordingly. This iterative process helps you identify what works and what doesn’t, ensuring that your resume remains competitive and effective.