How to get a resume through the ATS

- Ah, the ATS, the good ol' applicant tracking system. What the heck is it? And what do you need to do to increase the odds that your resume passes through this pesky gatekeeper when you apply for jobs online? In basic terms, the ATS is software that companies and recruiting agencies use to store, sort, and ultimately select candidates for consideration. It's basically a giant searchable database that recruiters use to find the so-called best matched candidates for the role or roles that they're working on. When you apply for a job by uploading your resume through an online portal, there is a good chance that your materials won't be reviewed by a human first. They'll be reviewed by the ATS. If and only if the ATS determines you're a strong enough fit for further consideration, you'll then move on to the human eyeballs. But before I run through some details, this is probably a good time to point out the obvious. If and when you can avoid the ATS and get straight to the people making decisions about who they're going to interview, you should. This not only cuts out a layer of gatekeeping, it gives you an opportunity to go into that race as a person versus a commodity. However, I do recognize that some companies need you to come into the system through the ATS, even if you have an in at that organization. So let's break down the most important things to factor in as you optimize your resume for the ATS. Number one, keywords. You absolutely must align your resume to the job description. Look for keywords that are used frequently and prominently in the job description, and make sure to include these in your resume. These are the very terms a recruiter is going to use when they're searching for those best-matched candidates. Number two, job titles. If you're a customer service manager whose current title is happiness manager or something super random, you're going to be better off listing yourself as a customer service manager so that the ATS knows you line up with that job. Number three, formatting. Keep it simple and straightforward as in don't go crazy with a bunch of columns, headers, unusual fonts, graphics. All of these can disrupt the parsing process. And in the worst case, you could be the most qualified person on Earth, but if your information parses into the ATS as a garbled mess, you're not going to show up as a strong match. Basically, use standard PC fonts, like Arial, Garamond, Calibri. And finally, avoid using a functional resume or one that features all of your career highlights and skills upfront without tying them to the corresponding role. Instead, use a reverse chronological format or a hybrid format, which features a summary section at the top and then moves into your detailed experience. You'll find a more comprehensive list of ATS dos and don'ts in the Exercise Files, along with a suggested resume template.