“In my first HR role, nearly two decades ago, I was tasked with manually sifting through heaps and piles of resumes to find the best candidates for various roles in the banking industry. Did I enjoy this? Honestly, only when the piles were smaller. But you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do! And so, as duty required it, I continued with the tiresome process of manually screening resumes,  always hoping for some kind of magical intervention,” shares Samia R. Patel, Founder – Work Hues.

However, today, while many of us apply to jobs online, it is most likely that our resumes are being reviewed by bots even before a human ever lays eyes on them. Who would have ever thought! These resume-screening bots are what we call the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

What is the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

The Application Tracking System (ATS) is a software that is now commonly used by organizations to streamline their hiring processes. When you apply for a job online, your resume is often uploaded into an ATS database. The software then scans your resume for specific keywords, qualifications, and formatting cues to determine if you’re a good match for the role.

The good news (particularly for us HR people): It speeds up the hiring process and saves recruiters from having to physically read through hundreds of thousands of resumes to determine the few best-fit ones. However, the sad news here is that if your resume doesn’t have the right information or isn’t prepared in an ATS-friendly format, chances are you’ll be filtered out almost immediately.

How the Applicant Tracking System Works

The system is designed to scan through essential information like job titles, work experiences, skills, and qualifications. It also digs deeper to look for keywords that are linked closely with the job posting. Resumes that successfully pass these criteria move a step ahead and reach recruiters, while those that are missing such vital information get filtered out almost immediately.

This, therefore, means that you can no longer continue with the ‘one format fits all’ approach. With recruiters now relying even more on applicant tracking software, job applicants must ensure that their resumes are carefully prepared to pass the software test.

Creating an ATS-Friendly Resume

Remember, an ATS-friendly resume is structured and formatted in a way that can be easily read and interpreted by the software. Here are a few simple techniques to keep in mind while preparing your resume:

Use a Simple Layout: Use standard resume formats with clearly labeled sections like work experience, education, and skills.

Avoid Fancy Designs: The use of too many graphics, tables, columns, and unusual fonts can confuse the ATS software.

Include Relevant Keywords: Analyze the job description and use the right terms, such as specific skills, tools, or qualifications, to match what the ATS is looking for.

Use Standard Headings: Stick to regular headings like ‘work experience’ or ‘skills.’ The use of creative alternatives, such as ‘places of work,’ may be ignored by the system.

Use a Word Doc or a PDF Format: Be sure to send your resume in the format mentioned in the application. Some ATS systems cannot read certain file types and automatically reject those applications.

Closing Thoughts

We know that today’s job market is fiercely competitive, and with tech becoming a key partner in our modern-day recruitment processes, creating an ATS-friendly resume is essential if you want to make it through the initial filtration process.

A carefully crafted, ATS-friendly resume ensures that your skills and experiences are visible – helping you stand out and enabling you to get the right attention from recruiters. Remember, if your aim is to land that job interview, you must begin by preparing an ATS-friendly resume that entails the best and true version of your skills, experiences, and expertise.