In today’s job market, it is increasingly common for companies to use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to manage the recruitment process. In fact, according to several surveys, over 75% of companies and 90% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems.
An ATS system scans and ranks resumes based on the job specifications and expertise of the candidate. This means that if your resume is not optimized for an ATS, it may not even reach the hands of a human recruiter.
In this guide, we will share tips and tricks on how to format your resume, choose the right keywords, and avoid common pitfalls in order to ensure that your resume is ATS-friendly and lands at the top of the pile.
Table of Contents
What is an ATS and How Does it Work?
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is a software tool used by many companies to facilitate the recruitment process. An ATS system works by scanning and storing resumes and cover letters in a database and then ranking them based on the job requirements and qualifications of the candidate.
How to Create an ATS Resume in 7 Steps
Creating an ATS-friendly resume is not particularly difficult – once you know how these tools work. And now that you do, let’s go through the steps of making your resume into the one that ATS will remember.
Step One: Use Simple And Clean Formatting
Use a simple, easy-to-read font and avoid any special formatting or graphics. Stick to a standard resume format such as reverse chronological order.
Step Two: Include Relevant Keywords
Make sure to include relevant keywords related to the job and industry in your resume, such as specific skills, certifications, and education. You can find these keywords by reviewing the job description.
Scan the job post and look for two types of keywords: job-related skills and action verbs.
- Job-related skills represent your main qualifications for the position, such as data analysis, research, and problem-solving.
- Action verbs highlight your past achievements in your job, such as creating, maximizing, and solving.
Incorporate these keywords into your resume, but avoid overusing them as a human will ultimately read it after it passes the applicant tracking system.
Let’s take a look at this job post and try to identify relevant keywords.
Job Description:
We are seeking an experienced and motivated SEO Specialist to join our marketing team. The ideal candidate will have a passion for all things digital and a strong understanding of current SEO trends and strategies. In this role, you will be responsible for improving the visibility and ranking of our company’s website on search engines.
Responsibilities:
Conduct keyword research and analysis to identify target keywords for optimization
Optimize website content and meta tags for search engines
Monitor and analyze website traffic and search engine rankings
Implement link building strategies to increase inbound links and improve search engine rankings
Collaborate with other teams, including content and product teams, to ensure SEO best practices are integrated into all digital marketing initiatives
Stay up-to-date with the latest SEO trends and algorithms and make recommendations for changes to the website as neededRequirements:
Proven experience as an SEO specialist or similar role
Knowledge of search engine optimization practices and techniques
Experience with Google Analytics and Google Search Console
Understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
Excellent communication and teamwork skills
Ability to work independently and meet deadlinesWe offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and a dynamic work environment. If you are a results-driven SEO specialist and ready to take your career to the next level, we want to hear from you!
We’ve highlighted the main keywords in the job ad. Now, let’s see how and where you can incorporate them in your resume.
You can use the action verbs like analyze, optimize, improve, and others when describing your previous work experience.
In the Skills section of your resume, you can use keywords like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
You can incorporate other keywords in your resume summary/objective, education section — and so on.
Step Three: Optimize Headings
Use headings and bullet points to organize your information and make it easy for the ATS to scan. Use headings such as “Experience”, “Education”, and “Skills”.
Step Four: Highlight Relevant Experience
Focus on your most relevant experience and highlight it in your resume. This could be related to the skills, achievements, and results that you have produced in your previous jobs.
Step Five: Avoid Graphics
Avoid using graphics and images in your resume as they may not be readable by the ATS.
Step Six: Save Your Resume as Plain Text or PDF
Save your resume as a plain text file or PDF format, which are the most compatible with ATS systems.
Step Seven: Tailor Your Resume To Each Job Application
It’s important to tailor your resume to each job you apply for. This means emphasizing the skills and experience that match the job description the most.
By following these tips, you can increase the chances of your resume being selected by an ATS system and getting noticed by recruiters. Remember that while the ATS is an important tool, the ultimate decision on who to hire will be made by a human recruiter, so make sure your resume is not only ATS-friendly but also visually appealing and easy to read.
How to Run an ATS Check on Your Resume
There are several ATS resume checkers that you can use to test your resume, including:
- Jobscan: This tool matches your resume against the job description and provides a report on your resume’s ATS compatibility.
- Resume-Check: This tool analyzes your resume for keywords, formatting, and compatibility with popular ATS systems.
- Resume-Now: This tool offers a free ATS resume checker that analyzes your resume for keywords, formatting, and compatibility with popular ATS systems.
What is Your Match Rate And Ways to Increase It?
A resume ATS match rate refers to the percentage of keywords and qualifications in the resume that match the job description and requirements specified by the employer. A high ATS match rate can increase the chances of a resume being selected for further review by a hiring manager.
Ways to increase ATS match rate:
- Carefully review and match the language used in the job description to the language in the resume.
- Use relevant keywords related to the job in the resume: specific skills, industry terminology, and job titles.
- Tailor the resume to each job applied for and highlight the most relevant experiences and qualifications.
- Avoid using tables, graphics, or other non-text elements that may not be recognized by the ATS.
- Use a simple and straightforward format that can be easily parsed by the ATS.
ATS Resume Example
Jeremy Nelson
London, UK
+44 20 7234 4565
jeremy.nelson@mail.comSummary:
Highly motivated and results-driven SEO specialist with 5 years of experience in increasing organic traffic, improving search engine rankings, and analyzing website performance. Proven ability to implement effective SEO strategies, analyze data, and deliver valuable insights to clients.
Skills:
On-page and off-page SEO
Keyword research and analysis
Technical SEO optimization
Link building and backlink analysis
Local SEO and map listings
Google Analytics and Google Search Console
Proficient in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. analyze, optimize, improve,
Work Experience:
SEO Specialist
Apple SEO
2019-2022Conducted comprehensive keyword research to identify target keywords and optimize website content accordingly
Implemented technical SEO best practices, such as meta tags, header tags, and alt tags, to improve website visibility and user experience
Built high-quality, authoritative backlinks to improve website ranking and organic traffic
Utilized Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track and analyze website performance, identify areas for improvement, and develop recommendations for clients
SEO Manager
Real Tech Ltd.
2016-2019Managed a team of SEO specialists and provided guidance and training on best practices
Conducted competitor analysis and identified opportunities for improvement
Developed and executed effective link building strategies to improve website ranking and organic traffic
Utilized Google Analytics and other analytics tools to track and report on website performance and make data-driven recommendations for clients
Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including marketing, product, and development, to ensure website alignment with overall business goals
Education
BA in Computer Science, University of London
(2012-2016)Certifications:
Google Analytics Individual Qualification (GAIQ)
Google Ads Certification
SEMrush Academy’s SEO Fundamentals course
Note: This resume example is just a suggestion, and you should adjust it to fit your individual needs and experiences. Make sure to use keywords that are relevant to the specific job you are applying for and highlight your most relevant achievements and skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Resume Length Matter for ATS?
The ideal length of a resume for ATS depends on several factors, such as the job requirements, the candidate’s level of experience, and the information that the candidate wants to convey. However, as a general rule, it is recommended to keep a resume concise and to only include the most relevant and recent experiences and achievements.
Are Google Docs and Microsoft Resume Templates Suitable for an ATS-friendly Resume?
Google Docs and Microsoft Resume Templates can be ATS-friendly, but it depends on the specific template and the format in which the resume is saved.
Google Docs and Microsoft Word offer many resume templates, but not all of them are optimized for ATS. When using a template, it’s important to ensure that it uses simple and straightforward formatting that can be easily parsed by the ATS. This includes using plain text and avoiding graphics, tables, and other non-text elements that may not be recognized by the ATS.
Additionally, it’s important to save the resume in a compatible format, such as a PDF or plain text file, as some ATS systems may not be able to parse certain file formats, such as DOCX.
Is There a Way to Trick ATS?
It’s not recommended to try to trick an ATS system. ATS systems are designed to accurately evaluate a candidate’s qualifications and to identify the best match for a job opening. Attempting to trick the system by using techniques such as keyword stuffing or hiding relevant information can not only harm your chances of getting selected for further review by a hiring manager, but it can also be considered unethical and could result in negative consequences.
Takeaways
So, let’s sum up what we know about writing an ATS-friendly resume:
Most companies use Applicant Tracking System to optimize their job search.
To write an ATS-friendly resume, you need to do the following:
- use clear and simple formatting
- add relevant keywords
- optimize headings
- highlight matching experience
- avoid complicated graphics
- save your resume as plain text/PDF
- tailor your resume to each job application