How to Check If Your Resume Will Pass ATS

The situation when a perfect candidate sends a resume and gets rejected is very unfair and also common during the job search. This is the reason job seekers might get discouraged by Applicant Tracking System.

Are you sure you know whom you are trying to impress? While most candidates think their resumes have a few seconds to grab the manager’s attention they have none.

If a company has more than fifty workers, a resume is very likely to be screened by an ATS resume checker. Luckily, resume specialists know exactly how to create an ATS-friendly resume that can survive the robots’ estimation.

Realize What You Deal With

The idea that your resume will have to face the ATS test should influence your resume writing strategy a lot. The first step to getting prepared is to get all the necessary information about ATS resume scanning and realize how the system works.

The Applicant Tracking System is used by companies to process a great number of resumes. During this initial check, the ATS estimates the resumes and rejects about seventy percent of them. The ATS is focused on the correct format of the document and the required qualifications.

You have a chance to get an interview invitation only if your document matches the ATS resume format. Otherwise, the system is likely to send an automated rejection e-mail after the test. So, make sure you are familiar with the requirements and learn how to write a resume outline first.

Keep It Simple

Although fancy fonts and graphics might grab the attention of a hiring manager, when it comes to robots, unusual formatting can only make it worse.

According to studies mentioned in Forbes, about 75% of great candidates do not pass through the ATS because of incorrect resume format. After checking some ATS-friendly resume templates, it is easy to notice the basic tendencies.

As PDF documents are not always readable for ATS, to begin with, it is better to choose Word format. Consider choosing standard fonts like Verdana, Arial, or Times New Roman. Tables, columns, text boxes, and images can damage the readability of your resume.

Include Targeted Keywords

The ATS does not read the whole text of your resume. It only looks for the targeted keywords. The lack of necessary keywords might ruin your chances to pass the test. Carefully estimate the key points of your resume to learn which words are important for this particular position.

The ATS resume should also contain professional terms and jargon. Review the vacancy carefully and find the words that describe the qualifications of a perfect candidate. An ATS-friendly resume template might also give you a hint of what phrases to choose. It might be useful to check other vacancies in the industry.

Make a list of key phrases and put them on your resume. Likely, a manager who entered these keywords in software and the system will look for them. If the percentage of keywords is high, a resume will pass the test.

Use Standard Headings

Creative headings are often used by candidates to make their resumes stand out. It is possible to see “things I am good at” instead of “skills”, or “my best results” instead of “achievements”.

This tactic is harmful when it comes to an ATS resume. The system does not recognize creative headings and any unusual categories. It is not a coincidence that an ATS resume template has standard notions like “skills”, “education”, and “work experience”.

When Bersin&Associates made a research on ATS resumes,  they created a perfect resume of the most suitable candidate and it got only forty-three percent relevance.

The part of information was not recognized by robots because of changing standards and bad formatting. Unconventional approaches might ruin the chances to pass the ATS check.

Also, don’t forget to check if some of your job search expenses are deductible!

Pay Attention to Dates and Abbreviations

Dates and abbreviations in your resume give you more chances to survive the ATS check. The system is likely to screen dates to find out if the candidate has enough experience for the position.

An ATS resume sample often offers a chronological format. Mentioning the years in your experience section could help your resume to go through.

A manager is very likely to enter professional abbreviations in software. It means you should also use them on your resume. The system recognizes the abbreviations and acronyms only if they are spelled out. Keep in mind these important details to beat the ATS.

The ATS scanning causes disputes and there are various opinions about this check. The candidates often find it stressful and irrelevant. Some even give up writing the resume on their own and use an online resume generator.

At the same time, 94% of recruiters believe that ATS has a positive impact on the hiring process in their company.

The ATS test could be passed if the candidate pays attention to formatting, keywords, and some other details previously mentioned in this article. Keep this information in mind and the robots won’t prevent you from getting hired. You can always ask for help from our ATS-specific resume writer that will assist you with optimizing your documents.