Resume Tips to Beat the Bots: ATS Software

Ever spent hours tailoring your resume for an awesome job but never heard back once you submitted your application online? In today’s digital job search market, more companies have adopted the use of Application Tracking Systems (ATS) to help sort through candidates at a quicker rate.

ATS may be the reason you've been left wondering why an employer was just not that into you. But not to worry -- CPD has some resume tips to help get you past the bots!

**Note: ArtCenter Connect does not use ATS. 

BACK TO RESUME TOOLS

Application Tracking Systems (ATS)

What is ATS and how does it work?

An Application Tracking System (ATS) is software that helps companies organize job applications. In short, an ATS automatically collects, scans, and ranks applications for a company’s open positions.

ATS software was originally developed for big-name companies that received hundreds to thousands of applications a week. The software served as a company’s gatekeeper and essentially streamlined the process for recruiters. Fast-forward to today. 98 percent of fortune 500 companies and even smaller companies have adopted ATS as part of their hiring process.

This means that, often, when you submit your resume through a company or job-search website like Indeed, ATS is at the front end, parsing through resumes to weed out unqualified applicants and deliver only top matches.

How does ATS impact me when I apply to positions?

Considering how popular ATS has gotten, your resume will likely run into these scanning bots first before getting in front of a person. We know it can seem daunting, but have no fear!

Below are some fresh tips to help you get past the bots.

Tip #1: Use the position description

 

Make sure to read through the position description and pull out keywords and phrases that are notable or repeated throughout the description. You can find these keywords under sections like preferred skills, required skills, qualifications and so on. 

PRO TIP!

If you have access to a printer, feel free to bring out a highlighter to mark keywords the old fashioned way. Or you can also use a word cloud. Copy and paste the position description and catch those repeated phrases. One of our favorites is wordclouds.com.

Tip #2: Tailor your resume

 

Tailor your resume to the position description.

Make sure to integrate the (relevant) keywords you found into your description of your experience. This will highlight your skills and experiences for the ATS.

Remember to be specific in your descriptions. Think about what, how and why.

  • What did you do? Quantify it.

  • How did you do it? Include process, tools, and skills.

  • Why? What was the result? How was it measurable?

Tip #3: Simplicity works

 

It’s important to remember that ATS is a scanning software and, unfortunately, not all ATS software is built alike. Some systems are ‘smarter’ than others. The simpler the resume style, the easier it will be for ATS to scan and organize the information on your resume.

File type: Plain text documents are the most ATS-friendly file type, but they limit format options. Instead, a MS Word document is recommended. 

  • You can use a PDF file if the application specifies that PDFs are accepted. However, sometimes a PDF cannot be fully scanned by ATS software, so in general, it’s best to stick with Word documents.

Design: ATS was created to remove all design from a resume and only pull out text. It’s best to avoid columns, graphics, and fancy fonts. This information might get jumbled around or missed completely by some ATS software.

You can use some minimal design, like color, bullets, font type and scannable graphics. It’s important to be intentional and organize your content to highlight what you most want a person to read.

 
ATSResumeDesignExamples.jpg

PRO TIPS!

  • We recommend having two resumes -- a simple ATS friendly resume and a designed resume. You can upload your designed resume to the “additional documents” field when applying to some positions.

  • You can “ATS test” your resume by copying and pasting your resume content into a plain text document to see if everything is picked up.

  • We recommend using software like SkillSyncer to see how well your resume matches a job description and get a report on how to improve it to better get through an ATS.

Tip #4: Two Audiences

 

Remember that you are tailoring your resume with two audiences in mind: ATS and the recruiter/person on the other side.

Be sure to include relevant skills, experiences and content in your resume that a person can read and connect to.

Avoid overstuffing your resume with keywords, because, although the ATS software might not pick it up, a person will notice.

Tip #5: Use Your Cover Letter

 

Your cover letter can be your place to stand out. As of now ATS does not scan cover letters, so use yours to highlight your personality, skill sets, and experiences that make you valuable.