What the heck is an ATS resume you ask?

As a jobseeker in a crazy job market in 2023, it’s crucial to have an ATS-friendly resume!

Why you ask? 

Because in a highly competitive job search, it’s critical your resume is easily scannable to pass the ATS test- It increases your chances of moving past the ATS screen to a human recruiter, hiring manager, HR, etc

What the heck is ATS?

- Applicant Tracking System (ATS)  is a software application that automates and streamlines the recruitment process for employers

- In a nutshell, it allows companies to manage job postings, track and organize resumes and applications, and communicate with candidates

- ATS has become increasingly popular over the years as more companies move their recruitment processes online and generative AI becomes more prominent

- Usually larger companies will use ATS, smaller companies may just use the good old fashioned way of reading each and every resume and letter that is submitted

What is an ATS friendly resume?

- An ATS-friendly resume means the resume is formatted to be easily read by an applicant tracking system software

- These systems are used during the hiring process to scan and filter through a large number of resumes quickly

- In some cases recruiters may receive thousands of resumes for a job posting and an ATS can help speed up the process and identify candidates who match qualifications in a more efficient manner

- An ATS resume will include a clear format, standard fonts and headings and relevant keywords and phrases from the job description - this is important in order to have the ATS connect your resume to the job being hired for

Here are 6 steps to help you optimize your resume to pass the ATS - better yet let me help you create your ATS resume:

1. Resume Format

- ATS software is designed to read and process resumes following specific formats

- Opt for a simple and standard resume format with bullet points, bold headings, italics, and underlining as needed

- Most fonts are parsed effectively by the majority of ATS software, however, ensure the font you choose is legible and easy to read

- Formatting dates, use the format MM/YYYY or “Month Year” 

Here is a list of ATS-friendly fonts:

• Arial

• Calibri

• Helvetica

• Trebuchet

• Avenir

• Verdana

• Montserrat

• Garamond

2. Include relevant keywords

- ATS keywords are specific words or phrases employers identify as requirements for a specific position - there correspond to the job description 

- So to increase your chances of getting noticed by an ATS, incorporate relevant keywords and phrases from the job description in your resume

- Do not create a separate section with keywords, incorporate them into the body of the resume

- Take the time to carefully read the job description and use the same keywords consistently throughout your resume, particularly in the skills and experience sections

- A word of caution: avoid overloading your resume with too many keywords - this can make it appear spammy and harm your chances of being selected

3. Use clear and concise language

- To increase your chances of passing the ATS scan, use clear and concise language in your resume

- Avoid industry-specific jargon, acronyms, or abbreviations - the ATS may not recognize these

- In some industries you cannot avoid jargon like in IT - follow the lead of the job description and use the same terms from the posting

- Use standard headings like Work Experience, Education and Skills to make it easy for the ATS to scan your resume

- Avoid getting too creative with your formatting and try not to use unconventional headings

- Remember, the goal is to help the ATS system easily identify your qualifications - not to stand out with a fancy design 

4. Connect the job title to your resume headline

- Your resume is more likely to land in a recruiters lap if you include the job role in your attention-getter of a headline on your resume

- Remember - a recruiter will search for a specific title and if your resume matches it will show up

- So for example - if you are applying for a job listed as “Senior Marketing Manager, Digital”, your ATS-compliant resume headline should look something like this: “Senior Marketing Manager with 12 Years of Digital Experience.”

- When naming your resume make it correspond to the job position - for example: “Senior Marketing Manager, Digital for Disney" - your naming convention should be “Sally Upcomer_Senior Marketing Manager, Digital_Disney"

- This format will keep you organized especially if you are applying at several companies and adjusting each resume for each different role

- Imagine if you were the hiring manager looking at hundreds of files and 90% of them are titled “Resume.” - yawn

5. Use the right file format

- Which format should you use to submit your application? Word or PDF?

- You can often take the lead from the companies upload prompt as they may indicate a preference but if not it is good to know that when it comes to submitting your resume to an Applicant Tracking System both Word and PDF formats work well

- It’s important to note that PDFs tend to be larger in size, which may cause them to be parsed at a lower rate - try and keep your resume under 2MB in size to ensure it can be uploaded and parsed properly by an ATS

- One of the main benefits of using PDF is it maintains its formatting across various operating systems and software - I always save as a PDF

- In the end, the decision of whether to use PDF or Word for your resume comes down to personal preference and the specific requirements of the job application

6. Proofread your resume

- Before submitting your resume, double-check to ensure there are no spelling or grammar errors to confuse the ATS or appear unprofessional

- You can always use a free grammar checker tool such as Grammarly to reduce errors and ensure the language is clear and professional

Hot Tip: Less is more when it comes to ATS-friendly resumes! By keeping your format simple and using the above tips, you will increase your resume’s chances of advancing through ATS software and straight to the hiring manager!

I know you may feel that an ATS-friendly resume format may feel boring and dull - but in order to win the ATS game and pass through the system you have to play by the rules. A good rule of thumb may be that larger companies with lot’s of employees are more likely use an ATS - in this situation you can send in your ATS resume. For companies that are smaller go ahead and submit a more creative version since the odds of a person reading it first will be highly likely. 

You can alway choose to hand in a more creative version of your resume at your face to face interview as well. Think of your resume as a tool to help illustrate and communicate your skills and different needs or goals may call for different tools! 

Good luck and let me know if I can help you with your ATS resume!