Have you ever applied for a job by sending in your CV and writing a cover letter and then waited for a reply, but never got one? Do you wonder why the recruiter did not respond even though you were the perfect fit for the job and had all the required qualifications? The reason behind this is the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) or the Resume-Filtering Bots. Technology has made the job-seeking process both, easier and difficult. You will not only have to make a CV that impresses the hiring manager but you will also have to make sure it passes through these applicants tracking software.
What is an ATS?
Applicant Tracking System, mostly known as ATS, is a type of scanning software that is used by companies to filter out the applicants whose resume fits the job description the most. This system gathers, stores and scans all the resumes that come in and then ranks them based on their suitability. This software was initially created for large-scale companies that receive 50K to 70K resumes per week but now, it is used by 98% of Fortune 100 Companies and approximately 35% of small companies.
According to a study, 75% of job applications are never seen by the hiring manager and are disposed of by the ATS. It streamlines the hiring procedure and requires minimum human support and hence is preferred by more companies. It saves them labor costs plus reduces the time for the entire process.
How Does ATS Work?
It is important you fully understand how ATS works to make an ATS-friendly CV. ATS works by scanning the CV for certain keywords that are set by the company to determine whether the applicant fits the job criteria and requirements or not. However, ATS works by disposing of the applicants that do not fit the job rather than identifying the candidate that fits best. If a CV is not written in ATS format then it will be disposed of before the recruiter even sees it.
How to Make an ATS Optimized CV?
Now that you know what ATS is and how it works, let us get started on how you can make your CV AST-friendly. There are a few ways you can use to make sure your CV passes the bots and makes it to the hiring manager including:
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Chronological Format:
The most common CV format is chronological and it is used by most candidates. It is easier to read and more organized as it lists all your employments from current to previous in reverse order. If you have no employment gaps and relevant experience for the job you are applying for, make sure your CV is in this format so that the ATS System recognizes it easily. Since the functional CV format does not emphasize your professional experience, the ATS might have trouble reading it and finding it relevant.
This is why most professional CV writers in Pakistan use a chronological CV format. You can also use the hybrid CV format if you really think you have more skills to showcase but make sure you keep your writing style simple and the words you use are common.
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Use Standard Headings:
If you label your headings any other way, the ATS might have trouble scanning it and may even replace your content under another heading or label it as an employment gap. It is best to use simple language and make standard headings for each section so that the Applicant Tracking System can easily distinguish between them and figure out what the content of the heading may represent. Some examples of standard headings and some examples of headings you should avoid are:
Standard Headings:
- Professional Experience
- Education
- Skills
Headings to Avoid:
- Where I have Worked
- Where I Studied
- My Abilities
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Relevant Keywords:
Probably the most significant and easiest way of making your CV rank high in ATS is using job-related keywords. ATS scans keywords that are relevant to the job you are applying for so make sure you fill your CV with such words. You can easily find the most suitable keywords for any job by reading the job description the hiring manager has posted. Identify keywords from the responsibility section, write them down in your CV and you are good to go. If you cannot find many keywords in the job description then Google will be your best friend, search the job position you are applying for and you will get numerous sites that will display the keywords related to it.
You can even use adjectives in your CV that are similar to the ones used in the job description. Make sure you include the most common keywords for the job you are applying to, even if they are not mentioned in the job description. For example, if you are applying for the position of a Digital Marketing Executive then you must use keywords like Content Creation, Digital Marketing, Copywriting, Media Buying, Social Media Campaigns, etc.
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Avoid Details in Headers and Footers:
Do not input details like contact information or name in your header or footer. Applicant Tracking Systems are unable to read the information written in headers and footers so any information you put there may be lost. If your contact information is lost then the employer would have no way of contacting you and you might lose a perfectly good job opportunity. Leave the header blank and start writing your details after it so that no information gets lost in the ATS.
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Use ATS-Friendly Format:
An ATS-Friendly format means using a simple and clean resume format, you will be able to find templates from any company providing professional CV writing services. These formats include no graphs, charts, or images as the ATS might not identify them or replace them which will mess with the information on your CV. Avoid using complex designs and go with a clean format that has a standard hierarchy. Try to incorporate your information in bullets so that it becomes quick and easy to read.
Use standard and basic fonts like Calibri, Times New Roman, Serif, and Sans Serif fonts rather than the fancy ones to avoid the ATS from altering your fonts. And lastly, many ATS software cannot scan PDFs or other complex formats and your CV might be disposed of without ever reaching the hiring manager so make sure you forward your CV in Word Docx format.
These tips and tricks will help you get past the bots and the ATS will rank you well if you follow each of them. Remember you do not only have to impress the recruiter but you also have to go past this intelligent software that might make your CV disappear from the face of the Earth without ever being seen by a human.