Organisations use ATS or Application Tracking System to manage their recruitment process and make it efficient. A typical ATS software has a variety of features. Vacancies are inputted in the ATS by the hiring manager. Some ATS have a vacancy approval process wherein each vacancy goes through an approval process that is defined by the organisation. Candidates apply to these vacancies – candidate résumés and CV’s may come online if the job is posted in the career site, from job boards where the vacancies are posted, employee references and from recruitment consultants. Each vacancy may attract hundreds of applications. Therefore, it becomes imperative that organisations automate the ATS to filter the candidates that are most suitable for the job.

During the process of shortlisting of résumé and CVs, some résumé and CVs even if suitable for the job, get filtered as they are not ATS compliant. It is therefore very important for the résumé and CV to be ATS complaint. Only such résumé and CVs get noticed by HR personnel who use these systems to manage and filter job applications. The ATS software helps companies screen résumé and CVs for keywords, qualifications, and other criteria before human eyes ever see them.

How to improve the chances of getting through the Applicant Tracking Software?

Use a simple and clean format for your résumé and CV.

It is important that the format used is clean and simple with no fancy design elements, images, graphics, or elaborate formatting. Use bullet points for formatting. Keep the formatting consistent.

Include relevant keywords in your résumé and CV

Many Applicant Tracking Software shortlist candidate résumé and CVs based on keywords and phrases that are in the job description. Tailoring your résumé and CV by adding relevant keywords to the skills and experience sections does help pass the ATS filter. Industry specific keywords can be added too to demonstrate knowledge and expertise. However, overuse or inappropriate use of such keywords or falsification will be noticed in the subsequent rounds of the selection process and the organisation may blacklist such candidates.

Use clear headings in your résumé and CV

The ATS software would typically parse different sections of the résumé and CV and save them in the database. It is therefore important that the résumé and CV should have the different sections such as Experience, Skills, and Academic Credentials organised under appropriate headers. These headers can be in bold and larger fonts.

Do not use headers and footers

It is important to remove headers and footers from the résumé and CV as the ATS software may not be able to parse the information provided in these sections. Include all essential information in the body of the résumé and CV.

Do not use text boxes and tables. Avoid complex graphics and unusual formatting.

The ATS software may not be able to parse the information provided in tables and text boxes. We advise you to not use images, graphs, and unusual symbols.

Do not use special characters in your résumé and CV.

Limit the use of special characters, symbols, or non-standard formatting, as they may not be easily recognized by the ATS.

Spell out acronyms

ATS software might not recognize acronyms or abbreviations, so spell them when first mentioned. For example, write “Search Engine Marketing (SEM)” if you use “SEM” in your résumé and CV.

Custom tailor résumé and CVs

Customise your résumé and CV for each job application by highlighting skills and experience relevant to the specific job posting.

Quantify achievements

Use numbers and metrics to quantify the accomplishments. ATS software generally can easily identify them.

Save in a plain text format

When submitting your résumé and CV online, use plain text (TXT), Microsoft Word (Doc or Docx) or PDF formats. ATS read these formats more effectively.

Edit and proofread.

Ensure your résumé and CV is free from typos and grammatical errors. Check for proper punctuation and capitalisation. Errors can confuse the ATS and decrease the chances of your résumé and CV getting shortlisted.

Include your contact information

Make sure to include your contact information at the top of your résumé and CV, including your name, phone number, and email address.

Present the résumé and CV in a reverse chronological order

If you have more than two or three years of work experience, we commend that you present your résumé and CV in a reverse chronological order. Most recent employment details should be listed first.

We also recommend that you name your résumé and CV appropriately using your name and job title rather than using a generic name. You can also submit your résumé and CV to an ATS simulator or checker to see how it parses your information and then adjust accordingly. It is important to have a résumé and CV that is engaging and relevant to human recruiters. Therefore, it is important to balance between optimising for the ATS and making it appealing to the humans who will thereafter review your résumé and CV.