Resumes That Pass Ats

The Place To Shine: A Cover Letter

At this time, not all bots or ATSs can scan or read cover letters. Therefore, even though the application may say a cover letter is optional, it could be the perfect opportunity to really differentiate yourself from the hundreds of other applicants. Augustine cautions again that you keep the formatting simple. Nevertheless, when crafting a cover letter, consider the following rules of thumb:

• Doesnt just regurgitate the content on your resume
• Opening paragraph is catchy
• Explains why you love the company
• Connects your accomplishments and experiences to what theyre looking for
• Explains what you can do for the company/how you can solve their challenges
• Includes some of your personality
• Contains a call to action
• Links to portfolio or samples of work
• Is addressed to an actual person or team
• Is about 3-4 paragraphs in length
• Doesnt use overly-formal language

Two: Choose The Appropriate File Type

A PDF file is universal, and can be read by most ATS, so that should be what you go for.

One beautiful thing about a PDF file is that, it has a great way of maintaining the design and format of your resume.

If it was explicitly stated that you should apply with a doc file, then that means their ATS will not be able to read PDF files. So, it will be important to submit your resume using a .doc file.

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What Resume Layouts Should I Avoid

Some resume layouts dont work as well as others. By avoiding these common mistakes, youll have a better chance of passing an ATS system:

• Dont use tables, charts and graphs
• Fancy and unusual fonts (Stick to the basics, like Calibri, Cambria or Arial
• Avoid unnecessary animations, designs and graphics
• Dont use abbreviations or misspell primary keywords
• Mind the spacing between words they matter in the keyword search
• Use long-form and short-form versions of your primary keyword
• Only use standard bullet points and avoid checkmarks, boxes, and stars

Although its tempting to want to use a different, stylish or design-focused format, the resumes that pass ATS systems have more traditional layouts.

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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 A Professional Ats Resume Template

There are many potential pitfalls in design and formatting issues, including file types, fonts, bullet styles and graphics that ATS programs cant read. Some sources claim that ATS programs have trouble reading serif fonts, but this appears to be untrue. But using an exotic, avant garde font that looks weird is a bad idea in the first place, and in addition may confuse ATS software. For guidance on good and bad fonts, read our article on What is the best font to use in a resume?Unusual bullet points the small typographic symbols used to introduce items in a list can also confuse the ATS. Stick with a solid round bullet, a hollow round bullet or a square bullet, but beware of anything fancier. Graphics are also unreadable by ATS programs. You may have turned your name into a fancy logo that you want to place at the top of your resume, but if its a .jpeg, .png or .tif file, its unreadable by a machine. Text should never be converted to an image file in a resume.

Professional resume templates provide a resume guideto how to organize your resume. It should have A) a headerwith your contact information, B) a profile or summary, C) work history, D) education and E) skills. By the way, in case youre tempted to rename the Skills section Superpowers, resist the urge. The ATS needs to know which section of your resume its reading, and it relies on simple terms like those listed above.

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Send The Correct File Type

Applicant tracking systems need to be able to scan and read your resume. The safest way to ensure that your resume will be read is to submit it in a .doc or .docx file from Microsoft Word.

Even though many of the systems are now advanced enough to read a PDF, you should still send a .doc file to be on the safe side. A PDF may preserve your formatting, but it is not as easy for older applicant tracking systems to parse. A .doc file is the preferred file type for both ATS and many recruiters.

You should also always check the job description to see if the employer wants a certain file type. Oftentimes, employers will specify a certain file type, so you should always have a .doc and a PDF version of your resume on file so you can answer the job description.

If no file type is specified and you’re applying to the job online, assume that your resume will be entered into an ATS and send a Word doc.

Business Ats Resume Samples

A resume is meant to provide a detailed overview of your corporate background. The samples below do this by highlighting what theyâve achieved as a professional to reinforce their credentials.

Administrative Assistant Resume

The first template on this list is for an administrative assistant.

Not all of us might have the ideal amount of experience a hiring manager would prefer. But, this candidate sticks to their strengths by focusing on the future value of what they could offer via their resume objective.

Another way theyâve stuck to their strengths is by listing their certifications and coursework. This aligns with their statement at the start which mentioned theyâre highly motivated.

Itâs structured neatly too including ATS keywords such as:

• Administrative associate

Account Manager Resume

This time, the account manager sample emphasizes their work experience.

Throughout the work history section, they havenât only included keywords in subheaders. Theyâve written their resume for a human reader as well. For instance, sharing the results of their work using statistics.

Try to let your experience speak for itself, especially for management positions.

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Are There Different Types Of Applicant Tracking Systems

Due to their high demand, there are dozensif not hundredsof brands of applicant tracking systems today. Each one comes with its own pros and cons, such as pricing. Some come with other integrations, such as a database that users log into. Others have unique additional benefits for better handling of candidates in specific industries.

Do Choose The Right File Type

In the great resume file-type debate, there are only two real contenders: docx vs .pdf. While PDFs are best at keeping your format intact overall, the .docx format is the most accurately parsed by ATSs. So if you want to get past the ATS, use a .docx file. But also follow directions and take the postings word for it .

And if youre considering using an online resume builder, first check what file type it spits outMahtani cautions that some online resume builders will generate your resume as an image .

Pro tip: If you dont have Microsoft Word or another program that can convert your resume to .docx or .pdf, you can , then download it in either format for free.

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Customize Your Resume To Each Job Application

One file type you never want to choose for your resume is stone. Your resume needs to be a dynamic, adaptable document that is customizedfor each prospective employer. In the old days, a resume was a piece of paper to be sent through the mails. Your parents may have gone to a print shop and had 50 copies printed on fine paper. That became their one-size-fits-all resume, the one they sent to every employer. But those days are long gone. A resume is an editable document that should be prepared individually for each prospective employer. This is what we mean by Always Target Specifically.

How do I know if my resume is ATS friendly?

If you are using skills and experience taken directly from the job description, the chances are that your resume is ATS friendly. Of course, only use those that you actually have!

Correctly Label Your Sections

Applicant Tracking Systems organize your qualifications based on common resume headings like Work Experience and Skills.

Playful headings like Why Im Great will confuse ATS software. So dont use them.

Here are some good and bad examples of resume headings:

ATS Friendly Resume Headings

• Where I Studied

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Keep Contact Information At The Top

The ATS cannot appreciate creative formatting. The tracking system reviews resumes traditionally: Heading, Summary, Work Experience, etc. Swap it up and it may not scan material appropriately. The ATS could also automatically send an email, but wont be able to if it believes it cant find contact info.

What Is Automated Screening For Resumes

Automated screening for resumes is a type of software used by recruiters, human resources representatives and others involved in the hiring process. ATS programs categorize your resume into different sections. ATS categories may vary depending on the company using them but may include work experiences, skills, education and contact information. The ATS software then searches for the specific keywords and phrases that relate to the job and company where you’re applying.

Companies may use ATS software to screen resumes received through emails, online portals or another digital method. Larger companies with a greater workforce are more likely to use ATS software.

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Only Apply To Roles Youre Qualified For

We all know a story about someone who managed to smooth talk their way into an interview for a position they werent, strictly speaking, experienced or qualified to work in.

ATS software is deployed to help managers prevent that from happening. That means your charisma and spunk will work well in an interview but the ATS needs to see demonstrable career history and training relevant to a given position before you get that far.

Use Simple Formatting And Precise Wording

An ATS is customized for each job position individually. In the same way, you will need to update your resume for every different job application. This doesnt mean starting from scratch each time you apply for a job the original CV you set up should be mostly usable. You only need to tuck in a few words here and there to make sure they match the job description.

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Unlimited Ats Resume Scans

You get several free uploads to our resume scanner. If you have different versions of your resumes , you can test each of your resumes through our resume scanner. This allows you to evaluate all versions of your resume for not only ATS friendliness, but also other key criteria , to make sure you get as many interviews as possible. To get started, upload your resume in PDF. If you’re wondering if PDFs can be read by ATS, the answer is yes! Unless specified, always use PDF. All ATS can read them perfectly as long as you stick to the guidelines we’ve outlined above – i.e. ensure your resume is not a scan and uses standard formatting.

Avoid The Resume Black Hole With A Free Resume Review

Theres no doubt that technology has helped make jobs more accessible. But on the other side of the coin, it has also made the job search and resume writing process more nuanced. To have job search success today, you need a resume that, in many cases, appeals to resume scanning software, as well as real-life hiring managers.

If you dont understand what each is looking for, theres a strong chance your resume will end up lost in the resume black hole and your search for that perfect job will be dead in the water. Putting your resume through a free review can tell you whether your resume hits the mark, or where it misses. It will let you know if youll make it through an ATS, how valuable you are in the eyes of recruiters, and what your interview chances are. In short, this is a great first step to getting the job you want.

Making sure your resume is ATS ready is important in todays job-seeking world. There are so many correctable things that can go wrong upon your submission, that youd be selling yourself short if you didnt at least give one of the free ATS tests a try. The test may prompt you to make a few changes, or even seek out the professional help offered by the above companies. Either way, you now know what you need to do to make sure your resume passes the ATS and gets into the hands of a hiring manager.

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Spare The Header And Footer

Applicant tracking systems do not clearly read the information mentioned in the header and footer sections of a Word document. It misses out on the information mentioned in these sections and may even reject a completely matching profile due to this error. Avoid placing any crucial details such as your name, phone number, or email address in the header or footer section of your resume.

Use An Ats Cv Template

Many applications never meet the hiring managers eyes for one simple reason they use a template that is made to stand out with great graphics, images and unique fonts.

What you need to understand is that all that is not compatible with ATS, and no matter how pretty your CV is, it will likely never pass.

• LinkedIn profile

As you can see, there is not much room for optimization here.

And yet, there are some critical mistakes that may confuse the ATS and lower your chances of getting the job.

The first thing you need to know is that some ATS filter CVs based on job titles, looking for an exact match.

So, for example:

If youre applying for a project manager position where the title used in the job offer is Project Manager, its better to stick to that instead of a different title.

That also helps you boost your total keyword match and increase relevance.

Secondly:

Algorithms also pay attention to geographic locations if the hiring company is looking for local candidates. So make sure to match your location to the job posting using the standard address format.

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Resume Ats Optimization Final Thoughts

When writing an ATS resume its important to only apply to roles you are qualified for, make it easy to skim-read, format it appropriately, utilize white space, and leverage the job description for keywords. Be sure to include your contact information and your resume summary and clearly highlight your skills, education, and experience.

We appreciate Miriam Groom from Mindful Career, a leading career counselor, for sharing her expertise on ATS-friendly resumes. Miriam uses behavioral profiling and psychometric assessments to uncover a job seekers ideal career. We encourage anyone that is struggling to land their next job or find their ideal career to reach out to her and her team.

Need More Help? Check Out These Video Tips for Creating an ATS Resume

Im the founder of MatchBuilt, a leading recruiting and career coaching firm based in the United States.

Weve helped people change careers and land jobs at some of the largest companies in the world with and without formal industry experience or a relevant degree.

On this blog, our team shares lessons learned from working with hundreds of clients and helping thousands of job seekers, from the latest resume and LinkedIn best practices to interview preparation techniques and career development strategies.

Ats Resume Frequently Asked Questions

An ATS-friendly resume is any resume properly formatted for ATS. An ATS-friendly resume can be easily scanned and scored by the ATS because of how the information is organized. This includes the use proper headings, fonts, and file types.

A great ATS-friendly resume is one uses the ATS filters to its advantage. It focuses on the job description requirements and provide keywords, professional experiences, and other qualifications to give the resume a high ranking.

Most ATS accept PDF resumes. The general rule of thumb is to make your resume a PDF unless otherwise specified. Word documents are also accepted by ATS and are fair alternatives to PDF. Each process can be a little different, so it is important for you to know what file types are accepted before you submit your application.

The chronological resume format is the most ATS-friendly. This is because an ATS usually starts with filtering through your resumes work experience section. A chronological resume format is easily understood by the ATS. Remember that chronological resumes are actually in reverse chronological order.

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