Companies increasingly use these applicant tracking systems to manage job applications and decide which resumes should be forwarded to the hiring manager.

According to statistics, around 70% of resumes undergo an ATS screening process. However, they never make it to the stage of being read by a person. Therefore, it is important to create a resume that stands the best chance of passing an ATS.

This article will explain how an ATS works and why employers should use it. We’ll also share the best tips to beat the ATS and the common mistakes to avoid.

What is an ATS?

Employers use an ATS to scan resumes and find the most qualified candidates for a specific job. It may also rank the candidates it reviews according to their suitability.

These time tracking software system can keep track of applicants and time during the hiring process. They may also store resumes for a long time so that candidates who have previously applied can be shortlisted to apply for new vacancies similar to their qualifications and skills.

Some organizations use an ATS to scan candidates’ resumes and social media profiles.

There are many applicant tracking system in india available on the market. Most are customizable, so employers can program them for reviewing resumes to meet their needs.

Why do companies use an ATS?

An ATS is a tool that companies use to speed up their hiring process.

Candidates can now submit their resumes online, making it easier to apply for jobs. However, larger companies may receive hundreds of applications just for one job vacancy. 

An ATS will identify all candidates that do not match the job description. It allows the hiring manager or human resource professional to concentrate on the top candidates for the job.

Large corporations first adopted these systems. A survey by Jobscan shows that 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS.

Medium-sized businesses with over 50 employees are increasingly seeing the benefits of an automated system.

An ATS will scan your resume if you submit an online job application. Therefore, it is good to assume that any company will use an ATS if you apply for a medium to the large-scale job.

What is the Work of Applicant Tracking Systems?

An ATS uses a Keyword Tracker to scan resumes for keywords and phrases relevant to the job description. In addition, an ATS can be programmed by a recruiter to perform focused searches using keywords relevant to a specific role.

An example: If an employer is looking for engineers, an ATS may use it to filter out resumes that don’t include the word “engineer.”

After an ATS has removed all candidates not suitable, resumes remaining will be submitted to the employer.

This stage is where a human will review all highlighted resumes and create their own shortlist.

An ATS will convert resumes to a document before scanning them. It is why formatting your resume correctly can be as important as making sure you include the correct keywords.

We will be discussing how to optimize your resume for an automated system of classifications (ATS) in the next section.

Top Tips to Beat the ATS

The ATS should accept well-written resumes, clear and relevant to the job description. The systems are intended to find the best candidates. Therefore, those who attempt to fool the ATS will likely be found out (see the section on common mistakes below).

We have compiled our top tips to create an ATS-friendly resume.

• Find Your Keywords

Think about the keywords that the ATS might be searching for.

This job description will help you get started. Note any words or phrases you use to describe the abilities, qualifications, and experiences that the employer is seeking.

People at the top of the list or mentioned multiple times are more likely to be important to ensure these words are in your resume.

You can look at similar job descriptions or search for social media profiles of people working for the Company to find out how they describe their job.

Online tools like Skillsyncer and Jobscan are great for finding keywords.

• Make sure to use keywords wisely.

Do not start adding keywords to your list just for the sake of the ATS.

With any luck, your resume may also be read by humans. Therefore, keywords should not be used where they aren’t necessary and should be related to your experience and skills.

A skills section can include in your resume to help you mention keywords that you might not find elsewhere.

• Only apply for the jobs that match your skills.

Although it may seem obvious, if you have the experience and qualifications to fill a specific role, the ATS will be able to recognize your abilities.

Including relevant keywords will be more difficult if the job isn’t a good match for you.

• Use simple language and avoid using uncommon words or phrases.

If certain words and phrases aren’t commonly used.

It also applies to section headings in your resume. Stick to the traditional titles of ‘work experience’ and ‘education’ instead of trying to be creative with your descriptions.

• Completely write acronyms

Some applicant tracking systems will search the phrase in its entirety, while others will search the acronym. Therefore, it is safer to include both.

• Make sure your resume format is simple.

A resume with many graphics or a complicated layout may be difficult for an ATS to read. It would be best to choose a standard, text-based resume that is chronologically arranged.

Use a commonly used font (such as Times New Roman or Arial, or Helvetica) in 11pts and more.

It is also a good idea to check the required type of file. For example, most people will ask you to send your resume in a PDF or DOCX format. It is because most applicant tracking systems prefer DOCX files over PDF.

• Call the Contacts you are applying to.

Include the name of someone already employed at the Company and who has referred you to the position.

Many employers offer an employee referral program. The approval of a current employee may use to expedite your application through the ATS.

Conclusion

Although an ATS cannot replace human judgment when it comes time to choose the best candidates for a job, employers can use them as a tremendously helpful tool in handling large amounts of job applications.

Whether you like them, these automated systems will be around for the long term. Although they’re not perfect and can reject candidates who aren’t qualified, an ATS will still look for evidence that you are qualified for the job.

You will be well on your path to securing a job interview if your resume includes this information in a way that the ATS can easily understand.