What is ATS optimization in a resume

Due to the tremendous increase in competition in the market these days and as there is a high rate of unemployment, hundreds and thousands of people apply for the same job post. This makes it hard for hiring managers to go over each and every resume and read them in detail. You won’t believe this, but hiring managers have some tricks up their sleeves, which make hiring a bit easier for them. Instead of going over every resume, they send it for ATS optimization and view only the ones who pass the ATS optimization. If you want your resume to get through the test and make its way to the hiring manager’s desk, then it is important for you to know what an ATS optimization is and how to pass it.

What is an applicant tracking system?

An applicant tracking system which is also commonly known as ATS is system software which is used by hiring managers to make their hiring process a bit easier. An applicant tracking system is used to collect resumes and cover letters, scan them and sort them according to their rank. This system software was initially made for large organizations that had to deal with thousands of job applications weekly, but now we have noticed that every other small company is using these systems to make the hiring process simple.

Working on an applicant tracking system

Keywords play an important role in the working of an applicant tracking system. The application tracking system collects all the resumes and cover letters and scans them in search of some specific keywords which help in determining whether the job application should be passed to the hiring manager or not. It shortlists all the resumes which are eligible for the job position and puts the rest of the unqualified job applications in a separate pile ready to be tossed aside in a ‘black hole’. These are the job applicants who never hear about the interview call or whether they are rejected or selected. In a nutshell, an application tracking system helps in setting aside all the unqualified job applications which do not meet the requirements of a certain job position.

Tips for writing an ATS friendly resume

If you want to make sure that your resume reaches the desk of the hiring manager and doesn’t get tossed aside, then it is important for you to write an ATS friendly resume. Here are some of the tips that can help you in doing so.

● If you want your resume to pass the pre-robot screening test, then send it in the .doc or .docx format.

● Don’t include the important details in the header or footer of the resume since most of the applicant tracking systems can’t read the details mentioned in the header or footer easily. Therefore, avoid putting your name, phone number or email address in these places.

● Ensure that your resume is optimized with keywords that will help in ranking your job application high. There are different keywords generators such as Wordle which will help in identifying which keywords are frequently used in a specific job post-application. The placement of the keywords matters a lot too.

● Don’t insert too many images, charts and graphics in your resume and cover letter since it can confuse the application tracking system.

● Instead of writing long paragraphs, you should stick to bullet points since it helps in highlighting the important information. Don’t choose an intricate bullet symbol and stick to the basic ones.

● Include your personal details in your resume, including your phone number, email address, name, LinkedIn, etc.