How to create an ATS friendly resume
What is ATS? This acronym means Applicant Tracking System. An applicant tracking system is a software program that acts as a database for job applicants. ATS are used by companies of all sizes to organize, search, and communicate with large groups of applicants.
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) require specific formatting in order to parse, or sort, the information in your resume. If your resume is lacking the proper formatting, valuable information and experience will get lost within the ATS.
The main goal of an ATS is to make life easier for recruiters and hiring managers. ATS makes searching easier, or even automated, saving time while avoiding human error. Job seekers who submit their resume and job application through an online form are inevitably interacting with an ATS.
But unfortunately for job seekers, most ATS are not able to search and filter candidates reliably. Some very qualified candidates can fall through the cracks and are wrongfully eliminated from the pool because their resume has formatting issues or lacks the correct search keywords. So in order to get noticed, job seekers must optimize their resume for the ATS.
Here are a few quick tips:
Keyword optimization: ATS analyze the content of your resume to allow recruiters to search for keywords. The best indicator of which words they’ll search is in the job description. So always tailor your resume to the job description. Recruiters are likely to search for: Job Titles, Hard Skills (such as Marketing, Customer Service, Microsoft Excel)
Resume format: The way you design your resume is important. Many ATS algorithms strip out as much formatting as possible in order to analyze/parse the text. This allows the program to import your resume into a uniform candidate profile. Use straightforward headings to clearly label your work experience. For example: Work History, Work Experience, Professional Experience. Avoid tables, columns, headers and footers.
In addition, ATS and recruiters prefer specific dates, so please use the following month, day, year format: MM/YY or MM/YYYY. Examples: 07/24, 07/2024; or use Jul 2024 or July 2024.
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