How to Optimize Your Resume for an Applicant Tracking System

How to Optimize Your Resume for an Applicant Tracking SystemHow to Optimize Your Resume for an Applicant Tracking SystemRecruiters and human resource managers can get bogged down in the process of reviewing resumes for open positions.To help with the screening process, many employers today are using an applicant tracking system (ATS) mora than ever before. The purpose of an ATS is to help hiring managers electronically sort through large stacks of resumes and to filter out unqualified candidates.As a job seeker, you have to keep an ATS in mind when writingresumes that get you hired. You can put together the most exciting and amazing resume, but if certain keywords are missing from the resume, then it could quickly be sorted away. So how do you know if you are defeating an ATS or if its defeating you?Here are important points to consider when your optimize your resume for an applicant tracking systemHow do applicant tracking systems work?There are many applicant tracking systems on th e market. Since they can differ, job applicants never really know what criteria any particular system has. The majority of them will pick out specific fields in the resume, such as relevant experience, educational background, contact information, and other common headers.An ATS can also identify keywords throughout the resume and use all the information to provide the recruiter or hiring manager with a score for the resume. The employer will have a certain score they look for, and if your resume does not pass, then it will never be looked at by human eyes.Why are keywords crucial?The importance of using the right keywords in your resume cant be overstated. To achieve a passing applicant tracking system score, its critical that keywords are used. However, an ATS can identify keyword stuffing as well, so they must be used appropriately. A good mix is to use the saatkorn terms outlined in the job description to increase your rank in the database, without extra jargon intended just to b oost your score.Can you outsmart an ATS?While its entirely possible to include the right mix of keywords and relevant information to optimize your resume to achieve a passing score, you must remember that once you pass an ATS, an actual human will read the resume as well. For example, if a certain job description requires a certification, youll eventually have to back up your claim that you either have the certification or are actively working to obtain it.Simply including the word certification in your resume may get through the ATS, but it wont help you land the job if you cant back up the claim when a human asks you about it.The struggle of defeating an ATS is a real one. Writing to optimize your resume that will get you hired today is more difficult than ever before, mainly because of the automation and technology available to help hiring managers sort through resumes. But we hope that the tips above will ultimately help you land the job you wantErin Kennedy, MCD, CERW, CMRW, CE MC, CPRW, BS/HR, is a certified executive resume writer and career consultant, and the CEO of Professional Resume Services, Inc. Shes a nationally published writer and contributor of 16 bestselling career books. She has achieved international recognition following yearly nominations of the prestigious Toast of the Resume Industry (T.O.R.I.) award. Shes also one of only a few professionals worldwide to achieve the coveted certified master resume writer distinction. With more than 18 years of writing experience behind her, Erin has written thousands of resumes for every career level and every industry.