The resume black hole. The CV abyss. Welcome to the candidate hell of the applicant tracking system.
If you’ve ever submitted an online application and heard nothing back, you’ve been exposed to an applicant tracking system, or ATS. Don’t believe me? Applicant tracking systems are widely used by more than 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies and an increasing number of small businesses.
ATS software ostensibly implements an algorithm to parse numerous resumes based on given search criteria—in other words, to get your resume past an ATS, it must contain keywords such as work experience, education, former employers, and skills.
Editor's note: If you think you'll need help getting your resume ATS-friendly, consider using LiveCareer's free resume builder.
Different criteria are given different scores and weights. How to get your resume past an ATS can feel mysterious, resulting in a candidate experience that is fraught with frustration and disenchantment.
If you spend the bulk of your time submitting applications via the ATS, this will be an exercise in futility. The bulk of your job search time should be devoted to networking (60 percent) and branding (30 percent). Only the remaining 10 percent of your time should be focused on getting your resume past an ATS.
Abandon hope, all ye who enter here
Nearly everyone I’ve spoken with has given up on an online application at some point. This is because applicant tracking systems are notoriously clunky, tend to freeze up, and often require candidates to spend an inordinate amount of time copying, pasting, and retyping information that’s already on their resumes. Applicant tracking systems are sold to companies as state-of-the-art technologies that will streamline their recruiting process. The reality, though, is that applicant tracking systems are little more than glorified Excel sheets that serve to frustrate candidates.
A necessary evil
Unfortunately, most employers rely on an ATS to manage the volume of applications and to screen out “unqualified” applicants. According to the Wall Street Journal, only 25 percent of resumes actually make it into the hands of a human recruiter. This means jobseekers need to find a way to work with ATSs if they want to get a job.
Keywords are king
There is a lot of advice out there about how to get your resume past an applicant tracking system. I’m here to tell you that the NUMBER ONE thing you can do to optimize your chances of having a human being look at your application is to . If you heed no other advice, heed this—keywords are the key to moving your resume beyond the black hole of the applicant tracking system.
Applicant tracking system algorithms search keywords first, so anything else is secondary. You should know what the relevant keywords are for your field and for the role to which you are applying. You find the keywords by studying the job description. What are the words that pop up continuously?
You can use a word cloud tool to help you visualize this. Once you identify the keywords, ensure that they are incorporated into your materials at a proper density—about once per hundred words.
Keep it simple.
It may be tempting to add some flair to your resume with graphics, charts, or fancy fonts. Just don’t. I’m not saying you need to use Courier 10-point font and standard one-inch margins, but you need to err on the side of simplicity. Applicant tracking systems are not particularly sophisticated and do not have the powers of comprehension that a live person would have. Nonstandard characters and fonts can easily lead to your resume going no further.
Proofreading is always important
Hopefully, you are arduously proofreading every piece of written communication you’re sending out to a potential employer. Your goal is to get your resume past the ATS and to a person, so you should proofread very carefully. Not only can a spelling error confuse an ATS, but 58 percent of recruiters say they reject resumes that contain spelling errors. Don’t get your resume past an ATS just to have the human toss it in the trash. Proofreading matters!
Write a strong resume
The importance of a strong, well-written resume cannot be overstated. You want to be sure that your resume tells the story of you and your accomplishments. Your resume is a promotional document that is designed to market your skills and experiences. Write it as such.
ATS software ostensibly implements an algorithm to parse numerous resumes based on given search criteria—in other words, to get your resume past an ATS, it must contain keywords such as work experience, education, former employers, and skills.
Far too many resumes are poorly crafted and rely upon a recapitulation of events. You want your resume to focus on your superstar achievements and the value that you’ve brought to prior roles. If you’re having trouble vetting out your accomplishments and organizing them into a solid resume, consider using a resume builder.
Manage your expectations
It is not uncommon at all for an eminently qualified candidate to submit a resume that’s fully optimized with keywords, devoid of spelling errors, tailored to all the defined criteria, and still be rejected by the applicant tracking system. Yes, these systems are pervasive, and you want to ensure you do what you can to get your resume past an ATS, but online applications and applicant tracking systems should not be the basis of your job search activity.
If you spend the bulk of your time submitting applications via the ATS, this will be an exercise in futility. The bulk of your job search time should be devoted to networking (60 percent) and branding (30 percent). Only the remaining 10 percent of your time should be focused on getting your resume past an ATS.
