3 things to know about the robots that read your resume

3 things to know about the robots that read your resume Share Share via TwitterShare via FacebookShare via Google PlusShare via LinkedInShare via E-mail By Rae Brendecke Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software applications that scan your rsum to determine if a recruiter should read it. Unfortunately, about 75 percent of rsums go unread by a human eye thanks to ATS. More than 90 percent of employers utilize ATS to filter through applicants before going to the next stage of the process. Heres how toget your rsum to rank highly within ATS so that it will be seen by the right people.Scan Your RsumJobscan Get five free scans of your rsum per month. It uses a similar algorithm ATS uses to calculate your match rate based on skill, job title, education, etc.Format matters.ATS cannot read all formats or file types. Most HR professionals recommend avoiding PDF, Pages, and other types of document files fremdartig from Microsoft Word. Having a plain text (TXT) version is al so helpful to upload as a backup.The way you create your rsum also matters. Not all ATS programs read headers, footers, text boxes, charts, or graphics, so it is best to avoid this type of formatting. If those creative elements are used, key components of your rsum mightbe skipped over such as contact information or complete sections of your rsum. Instead, stick to simple formatting.Keywords. Keywords. Keywords.Because many ATS software applications rely on exact character-matching, a candidate must use the exact words from a job description. Otherwise, it is likely their rsumwill not be picked up by the ATS. For example, if the job description particularly in the Qualifications or Requirements section is looking for a software developer with knowledge of Java and Python, you would want the words software, Java, and Python to appear multiple times in your rsum. This means including those keywords not only in your skills section but in your projects and experience sections. Often, ATS software rates your application on how closely you match the keywords in the job description.How can you identify important keywords? Read through the job description and highlight any skills, technology, software or repeated words, especially in the qualifications section that match your own skills and credentials. This is often the best way to get a sense of what the employer is looking for in a candidate. Incorporate those highlighted words and phrases as they appear in the job description in your rsum and cover letter.Warning dont just copy and paste keywords and phrases into your rsum- the ATS will catch that tooIt should still be human-friendly, too.Remember, the ATS is the first step. Once youve successfully navigated the ATS, your rsum will likely be reviewed by multiple people, so it should still look aesthetically pleasing and easy to skim. Use simple features like strategic use of spaces, bold, italics, columns, and underlining to create a flow to your rsum that makes it easy for a recruiter and hiring manager to read. Be sure to incorporate your keywords into high impact phrases that describe how you uniquely contributed in previous roles.CategoriesCareer AdviceTagsExpert Advice - Graduate StudentsFeature Article