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How Do Resume Scanners Work

Send As A Word Document

Got My Resume Through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) with a 95% Success Rate!

A Word document, specifically a .doc or .docx file, is easily processed by all ATS out there and itâs also preferred by the majority of hiring managers. Although most ATS systems now process a PDF, some applicant systems still have trouble with them.

In our team of expertsâ opinion, it isnât worth the risk to preserve your formatting on an online application! Send your resume as a Word .doc to rest assured that your resume can be read easily by any ATS.

What Tests Does Our Ats Resume Scanner Run

We’ll scan your resume in 30 seconds and evaluate it against a range of criteria that recruiters and hiring managers consider important. Our resume test goes even deeper than an ATS scan, and gives you feedback on many other areas of your resume such as impact, soft skills and brevity. This enables you to identify gaps on your resume so you can fix them.

Use Resume Keywords Correctly

This is one of the most crucial elements to not only get your resume past the ATS, but to ensure that it gets a high ranking as well.

The software is designed to scan for keywords that relate to the job and industry. A good place to start would be the job description. If youâre going for a job within a particular industry, you should already have identified the major keywords that relate to that industry or the position that you seek.

If you need some guidance, you can look at a few job descriptions which will help you decide which keywords to include in your resume.

Let’s take a look at a job description for an accounting position and see what keywords we can use:

Position: We are seeking an Accounting Assistant to report and record ticket sales, prepare deposits and reconcile bank accounts. Dealing with any ticketing accounting situations is a major function of this position.

Responsibilities:

  • Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly reports

You can include these keywords in a core competencies or skills section.

Example of using keywords for an ATS scan:

One thing that’s just as bad as not having the correct keywords is over-using them. Many applicants try to stuff as many resume keywords as they can in hopes of hacking the ATS and earning a high ranking. Have you heard the myth about white text at the end of a PDF?

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Keep The Layout Simple

Software cannot scan what it cannot read. Be sure your resume doesnt become a jumbled mess by sticking to a plain-text version for online applications. Considerations include:

  • Avoiding formatting
  • Selecting traditional section headers that can be understood by all systems
  • Deleting pretty, but potentially error-producing, extras such as logos and pictures
  • Choosing a normal font, such as Courier or Times New Roman, instead of a fancy one
  • Spelling everything correctly

Why Do Employers Use Keywords

Laser Operator Resume Samples

Keywords describe skills, experience, education and other attributes that employers require to fill an open position. For example, if an employer needs to hire a salesperson, then the hiring manager or resume scanner might look for keywords such as customer service,generate sales,product knowledge and cashier experience. Action phrases might include created inventory system and trained in cash handling.

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Why Should You Use Artificial Intelligence For Recruitment

The HR industry is continually evolving. Recruiters need to be agile enough to adapt to these changing needs and demands quickly.

According to Glassdoor research, 76% of HR finds it difficult to attract the right job candidate. When there is fierce competition in the market, and every organization is looking to attract the top talent, a hiring manager cant afford to let a good resume slip through the cracks.

Technology has played a significant role in solving some of the biggest challenges that HR managers face. The introduction of AI in the recruitment process has transformed the hiring process. It has enabled HR managers and recruiters to scan large volumes of resumes. It helps find candidates that could be a perfect match for the open position.

In fact, the use of AI in hiring technology has resulted in more time savings. HR professionals can use their time in more valuable ways to enhance the hiring experience for candidates. 40% of companies have already adopted AI tech in their hiring process.

To understand how AI for recruitment has been a game-changer, you must first understand resume parsing.

Check Your Spelling And Grammar

Of course, this advice applies to all CVs, but it bears repeating in the context of an ATS application. A typical employer or hiring manager will be fully prepared to throw out any CV with a spelling mistake, but with an ATS, your CV wont even get that far. Where a human can at least glean your meaning from a misspelled word, an ATS won’t know what you’re talking about.

The ATS is looking for matching keywords and relevant headings, so a misspelled word wont register as a match, even if you are perfect for the job. A little proofreading can be the difference between instant rejection and a successful application.

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Is It A Perfect System

Highly qualified applicants do occasionally get eliminated by an ATS System, just because their resume isnt ATS Friendly, ATS Compliant, or ATS Compatible.

Again though, ATS Scanning is still used because it saves HR departments and hiring managers so much time:

Potentially missing out on a few great candidates is seen as a worthwhile trade-off.

So, what can you do to make sure your resume gets past an ATS Scanner?

Here are 5 Easy Steps to ensure your CV makes it to the next level!

Don’t Put Important Details In The Header Or Footer

How To Beat The Applicant Tracking System | ATS resume scanning for your job search 2020

Not all applicant tracking systems are able to properly read and parse information stored in the header and footer sections of a Word document. In fact, our study confirmed the ATS was unable to identify a portion of the job seeker’s contact information 25 percent of the time. Avoid this same fate by placing important contact details outside the header or footer of your resume.

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Why Do Companies Use Keyword Scanners

The problem with these job description keyword finder programs is that they have limited ability to interpret whats in front of them. That is, they are powered by a simple program that looks for specific words and phrases. They cant look for a wide range of variations in those keywords. Because of this, a lot of good applicants can get left behind.

That means there is a new skill set you can learn: the skill of writing your resume to optimize its content to the job description and pass that resume keyword search. That means customizing the document to get you past that virtual gatekeeper and in front of the eyes of the hiring manager.

Word Choice & Keywords Matter

Using action verbs like “outperformed,””solved,””led,” and “delivered,” are essential when crafting a resume. These compelling action verbs powerfully show off what you did in each of your roles. However, when it comes to the bots, you’ve got to kick things up a notch.

The most important element beyond formatting your resume so it can be accurately read and parsed by the ATS is keyword optimization,” says Augustine. “This is how the applicant tracking system determines if you possess the necessary qualifications to be considered for the position. In addition to listing out a specific term, be sure to also include any common abbreviations to cover your bases.”

However, Augustine warns against keyword stuffing or packing your resume and cover letter with buzzwords. “If the ATS cant sift through the B.S., I guarantee the recruiter or hiring manager will and then promptly dismiss your application.” Instead use keywords sparingly and intelligently.

To make sure your resume is compatible with system, incorporate the best keywords throughout your resume 2-3 times, with at least one of those references falling within your Work Experience or Education section. Its one thing to state that SEO is among your core competencies, but its another thing entirely to show where in your employment history you leveraged that knowledge to add value to an organization.”

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Why Applicant Screening Software Evolved

The prevalence of applicant tracking systems has grown substantially since the time of the great recession.

Companies advertising open positions often have hundreds, if not thousands, of applications to sift through in order to find a few cream of the crop candidates to interview for the job. Jobs continue to attract far more applicants than busy hiring departments have the time to interview.

Its often too much for any one person or even a small group of HR staff members to deal with on their own. Thats how these resume robot programs came into existence for the most part as an aid to overwhelmed hiring managers.

How Widespread are

What Is An Applicant Tracking System

Scanner Operator Resume Samples

An applicant tracking system or ATS, for short is a type of software used by recruiters and employers during the hiring process to collect, sort, scan, and rank the job applications they receive for their open positions.

The applicant tracking system was initially created for large companies that are accustomed to dealing with several thousand inbound job applications on a weekly basis. Today, approximately 99 percent of Fortune 500 companies rely on ATS software to help streamline their recruitment process. However, what began as a recruitment solution for large employers has turned into a commonplace tool for companies of all shapes and sizes.

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Running Into An Issue Bug Or Other Problem

If you are running into a problem with the ResyMatch tool or you have a feature suggestion, we’d love to hear from you! Shoot us an email at

While we don’t have the resources to reply to every request , we do read every one and work the suggestions into future versions of the tool. We also ask that you read the FAQs below before emailing because we have gone ahead and answered the most common questions there

Dont Let Your Cv Get Too Fancy

Keep it simple

It is important not to confuse the Applicant Tracking System. The ATS must be able to navigate your CV easily, without getting tripped up on any complex formatting elements. Unfortunately, certain formatting tricks that look great to a human eye will confuse an ATS.

However much it may hurt to get rid of the graphical details youve added to your CV, anything that might create a problem for the parser must go, even perhaps, headers and footers.

Of course, the CV you create for ATS applications doesnt have to be your only CV. In fact, it shouldnt be. Any time you know your CV will be seen by a person, not a robot, feel free to send your more stylish resume, with all the graphics and images befitting the company and position you are applying to.

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How To Get Your Resume Past The Robots

Did you know that many recruitment agencies rely on automated computer software to pre-filter resumes? Known as Applicant Tracking Systems , the software uses what can essentially be thought of as robots to scan through job applications. Resumes uploaded to an ATS are only viewed by a human if the system matches the resume to the job ad. The others get dumped into an electronic black hole.

If you want to ensure your resume doesnt disappear into cyber-world and actually makes its way into the hands of a human, you need to know how to outsmart an ATS.

If you want to ensure your resume doesn’t disappear into cyber world and actually makes its way into the hands of a human, you need to know how to outsmart an ATS.

First, its worth understanding that an ATS is programmed to scan for keywords as well as other information such as former employers, experience, universities, and qualifications. They categorise candidates automatically in order of potential interest for the recruiter. An ATS may reject more than half the resumes they scan.

Many a great candidate misses out when an ATS is used, says Karl Smart, State Manager, Staffing Services Queensland at Chandler Macleod Group. He recommends asking old colleagues and other contacts at organisations to put in personal recommendations for you as a way of cutting through the automated grading system.

How Do You Say Youre Good At Resume

How to Make an Easy Resume in Microsoft Word (2020)

Top 15 Words to Include on Your ResumeImproved. Improved is another useful action verb to put in your resume. Trained/Mentored. Words like trained and mentored are action verbs that show you have experience managing others. Created. Resolved. Volunteered. Influenced. Increased/Decreased. Ideas.More items

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What Should Not Be Included In A Resume

Things not to put on your resumeToo much information.A solid wall of text.Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.Inaccuracies about your qualifications or experience.Unnecessary personal information.Your age.Negative comments about a former employer.Details about your hobbies and interests.More itemsJan 17, 2021

How To Optimize Your Resume For Applicant Tracking Systems

A few simple strategies can help set your resume up for success in passing through an applicant tracking system. The most important advice? Keep things simple. An aesthetically pleasing resume with headers, different fonts, and visuals wont do much to impress an ATS. Save that for the human recruiter or hiring manager by creating a second copy of your resume in a plain text format that will be easy for the ATS to scan.

Font, formatting, and stylistic choices should be as simple as possible. There is no reason not to use the default font. There is no reason to use multiple bullet points, multiple levels, fancy formatting, or anything stylistic. The simpler it can be the better, says Marc Cenedella, CEO of career site Ladders.

Also, be mindful of any charts, graphics, or other visuals that will look nice to a human, but that might confuse an ATS.

Most ATS strip out formatting and parse the plain text, but you can still make your resume look nice. It is best to stay away from inserting graphics, columns, headers, footers, or tables. ATS reads top to bottom and left to right, if you have columns built into separate information the ATS might read two separate categories of information as one. Standard headers for categories, bold, capital letters, italics are all ok. Most ATS can read a PDF but Word.doc is almost always the safest bet, says Kleiman.

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Avoid Images Charts And Other Graphics

While these may look nice to the human eye, resumes with embedded images become a garbled mess, or get completely omitted from your application, after it passes through the applicant tracking system. For instance, if you insert an image or chart to showcase your key skills, the ATS will be unable to read it. If you use a cool graphic to brand your name on your resume, this piece of information will be lost on the applicant tracking system .

Include Resume Scanner Keywords Organically

Cat Scan Technologist Resume Samples

Incorporate keywords into your resume organically by replacing general words and phrases with specific ATS keywords whenever you can. ATS software will reject applications that use keyword stuffing in attempts to fool it, so simply adding a list of stock keywords to your resume will actually hurt your chances. Your resume must be readable and not just searchable.

Keep in mind that you are doing all of this to get your resume into human hands, so be sure it is legible, well-organized and concise. You have to strike a balance between using ATS keywords and natural language on your resume for the best results.

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Optimizing Your Resume For Applicant Tracking Systems

90% of Fortune 500 Companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to manage high volumes of job applications. ATS will electronically scan your resume, score your qualications based on the description for that position, and rank your application. Recruiters rely on them to make their screening process more ecient. 75% of candidates are phased out of consideration because they dont pass a screening!

These tips will help ensure your resume is positively reviewed by ATS.

How To Write A Resume For Ats

The bulk of internet traffic finds its way to blog posts through search engine results. Writers and webmasters format their blogs with unique, high-ranking keywords so they appear higher in search. The closer their article gets to the top result, the higher their traffic might be. Resumes and applicant tracking systems work in the same manner. Resumes built with both the ATS and role-specific keywords in mind rank higher than others. The following steps outline how to make an ATS-friendly resume:

  • Consider the job description.
  • Collect a list of keywords.
  • Use standard headings.
  • Make multiple resumes.
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    Be Specific Not General

    Generic resumes are a big no-no. Gone are the days when you could send out a dozen cookie-cutter resumes and get a callback, or as my colleague describes this job application approach, “spray and pray.”Customize your resume to the job you are applying to. “While you shouldnt overhaul your resume for each job application, its important to make minor edits each time to highlight your most relevant qualifications based on each job listing,” advises Augustine.

    Furthermore, as you evaluate your resume or give it the final gut check, try to remain objective, says Augustine. “Remember that youre not writing this resume for you youre writing it for prospective employers. When youre deciding what information to include in your resume, consider if the details will help a recruiter or employer assess your qualifications for a particular role.”

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