How to Optimize Your Resume for an ATS
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Recent studies reveal a staggering nearly 99% of all Fortune 500 companies now aggressively employ Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to decisively filter out candidates. This filtering mechanism is solely dependent on whether the ATS system thinks the candidate is a match for the advertised job.
It is imperative to understand how to optimize your resume for an ATS system so that you get a chance to get to the next stage of hiring. The prevalence of these ATS systems has made it much more important and urgent to optimize your resume to significantly increase your chances of landing an interview.
What is an ATS?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by recruiters and employers to collect, sort, scan, and rank the job applications they receive. It is also capable of process automation, interview scheduling, resume parsing, and documentation delivery. If you’ve ever submitted a resume online, it’s highly likely it has gone through an ATS.
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How do ATSs work?
ATSs filter applications based on specific criteria, such as keywords, skills, former employers, years of experience, and even education. Resumes that don’t meet the criteria are often rejected before a recruiter ever sees them, while those that get through are ranked according to match quality.
How to optimize your Resume for an ATS?
When an ATS system scans a resume, it compares the base resume with the job description and based on the results it gives the resume a score called job match score. If the score is above 80% the resume makes its way to the hiring manager. Following are some key elements for ATS Optimization:
- Formatting: Your resume’s formatting can either aid or hinder an ATS in reading your application. Stick to traditional fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, avoid headers and footers, and ensure your text isn’t embedded in images or graphics. Keep the layout clean and straightforward.
- Keywords: Much like SEO for websites, specific keywords optimize your resume for automated systems. Keywords should be relevant to the job description and industry and be integrated naturally throughout your document.
- Section Headings: Standard resume headings like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills” help an ATS recognize the different sections of your resume. Creativity in headings can confuse the software, so it’s best to stick to convention here.
- File format: A simple Word document or PDF is typically the best choice for an ATS.
Role of JobQuest in ATS friendly resume optimization
Now that you’re familiar with the significance of ATS (Applicant Tracking System), you might be wondering, “How can I ensure that my resume meets all ATS requirements, especially when tailoring it for different job applications?” JobQuest is here to address your concerns and provide an effective solution to this whole problem. Here are some ways in which JobQuest can assist you in optimizing your resume for ATS success.
- Job Match Score: With Job match score feature JobQuest lets you know how much your current resume score is against provided job description. This helps you know beforehand how much a company’s ATS will score you.
- Tailor Your Skills Section to Match Job Requirements: Using Job gap analysis feature it highlights the skills that are specifically mentioned in the job description and what gaps you have in each section of your resume.
- AI Resume Building Tool: With advanced AI features you can tailor your resume and showcase your qualifications with impact. Experience the confidence of a winning application in just a click.
- Includes Relevant Keywords Throughout Your Resume: JobQuest not only adds keywords in the skills section, but also within your professional summary and work experience. This redundancy can improve your resume’s matching score in an ATS.
- ATS format: The newly made resume can be downloaded in the correct format which the ATS system can easily recognize.
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While it may seem rigorous with JobQuest from uploading your resume to downloading the optimized ATS friendly resume all the steps can be done within a matter of minutes. As JobQuest follows the relevant key words and right format guidelines to create a resume that increases your chance of getting hired.