What’s an ATS resume?
Do I need an ATS resume?
We've gotten this question from several clients recently, so I wanted to explain what an Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) resume is. Calling it an ATS resume is where the confusion lies.
It's not one resume style or type of resume! The term refers to a resume that is ATS friendly, or easily read by ATS systems.
Every ATS system is different and parses information into databases differently, which is what makes it impossible to create a one-size-fits-all ATS resume. Many companies use proprietary systems. In addition, ATS filters have many faults, and very often don't catch qualified candidates. Job descriptions usually aren't completely accurate, which results in poor filtering as well. Despite all of this, what can you do to increase your chances that you'll end up in the interview pile?
This Indeed article goes into more detail, but the main takeaways on how to make your resume ATS friendly are:
Because your resume will be scanned by software, an ATS resume must be easy to read (scan).
Instead of fancy formatting, an ATS resume features a simple font, layout and labels.
ATS focuses on keywords to determine if an application matches what the employer is looking for.
When we create resumes at Career Valet, this is exactly what we do to make them as ATS friendly as possible.
As you saw above, there are many ways this can still go wrong even if you've done your best. If you have an ATS-friendly resume and you're getting template rejection emails in response to your applications, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to spend time reaching out to hiring managers (it is often a guess on your part as to who it is) to ask for a brief conversation or email exchange. This often leads to productive conversations and interviews.
Photo credit: João Ferrão