IsoTalent’s Post

ATS friendly resumes do not exist. There I said it. And I may get roasted for this statement and I am ok with it. I run an ATS with nearly 11K clients and 5M candidates flowing through it at any given time. There are some ways that you can help the resume parsing be more complete and accurate. This part is true. But please, if you are looking for a job, don’t go buy a service or a template to make your resume “ATS ready”. This is equivalent to buying the snake oil of the past. Having said that, here are a few things to consider when submitting any resume - in physical form or through an ATS: 1) Grammatical or Spelling Errors - 59% of recruiters (not ATSs) will reject a candidate's resume because of this. So many different tools are available to help you - including Grammarly or even spell check in Google Doc and Microsoft Word. Take a few extra minutes to run through these. It is small, but it matters. However…ApplicantPro does not auto-reject based on grammatical errors. 2) Overly Formatted - I love beautiful marketing materials as much as the next person. And a beautiful piece promoting yourself as a job seeker SEEMS like a good idea. But a resume isn’t the place for that. Rather, simple formatting showcasing your skills that match the requirements will always be the best policy. It may not parse properly and will look wonky when it arrives at the hiring manager, but ApplicantPro will not auto-reject. 3) Correct Keywords - I was taught when looking for a job, that I should take a few extra minutes and tailor my resume to each job that I was applying for. This is still important but not to trick an ATS but so that when a human reviews your resume it is easier for them to see you in the role. Use the job ad as your guide on this. If it says copywriter in the job title (and you possess this skill), use that exact word in your resume. ‘Content creator’ doesn’t match exactly and therefore doesn’t hold the weight that ‘copywriter’ does. Where possible use the exact keyword. You may not be highlighted as a top candidate to review. But ApplicantPro does not reject based on resume keywords. 4) Image format of resume - Where possible have a polished version of your resume saved in a pdf or doc file format on your phone. (Pdf is best) When applying on job boards, many won’t accept a screenshot of your resume or another image file format. Even if they do accept the image file type, not all ATS will be able to parse your resume from an image file. It either can’t be done or it will kick back a wonky version to the hiring manager. But, having the wrong resume file type will not get you an auto-rejection from ApplicantPro. Let’s say it one more time - we do not auto-reject based on resumes. It isn’t a thing. Anyone telling you otherwise, is probably trying to sell you something. Big thank you to James Hudson for continuing to talk about this topic.

Remarkable wisdom shared on this article!!!

Share with the friend / relative who always gets their applications missing in thin air without any feedback from employers. Who agrees that many a times employers don't even get to read your applications? The machines do the screening and clear many applications out. So your diligently drafted applications may not even cross the screening stage done by the ATS (the software). That's why you need to know these things.

In today's competitive job market, getting your resume noticed is crucial, but did you know that your carefully crafted CV might never even reach human eyes? The culprit is the ATS (Applicant Tracking System), a digital gatekeeper that screens resumes before they land on a recruiter's desk. Understanding ATS Systems Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by employers to manage and filter incoming resumes. They're designed to streamline the recruitment process, helping HR teams handle the vast volume of applications they receive. ATS systems scan resumes for specific keywords, skills and qualifications, allowing recruiters to identify top candidates efficiently. However there are many issues that prevent ATS systems from reading your resume. Hidden Information in Headers and Footers ATS systems may struggle to read content located in headers and footers. Information such as contact details or crucial keywords hidden in these sections might be overlooked. To overcome this issue, place essential details in the main body of your resume. Images, Logos, and Graphics While a well-designed resume with images and logos may impress a human reader, ATS systems often stumble when parsing such elements. To avoid this, opt for a text-based resume without graphical elements. Special Characters and Symbols Fancy symbols or special characters such as "é", can cause confusion for ATS systems. Stick to standard fonts and avoid using symbols that could be misinterpreted or block the ATS from reading your resume. Non-Standard Fonts and Formatting ATS systems prefer standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman. Fancy fonts or excessive formatting may lead to misinterpretation. Keep it simple and legible. Unusual Layouts and Columns While creative layouts with columns can make your CV visually appealing, they can be problematic for ATS systems. Stick to a traditional formats to ensure your content is properly read. Excessive Length and File Format Issues ATS systems may struggle with overly long CVs or non-standard file formats. Keep your resume concise and save it as a universally compatible file, such as a Word document. Tables and Complex Data Formats Tables and complex data formats (such as all ‘—-’ to create a line) may not be recognized or parsed correctly by ATS systems and these can prevent your resume from being read properly. Impact on Job Seekers The consequences of ATS-related issues can be disheartening. For example, Sarah, a marketing professional, applied for a senior marketing manager role at a prestigious company. Her resume contained a beautifully designed table showcasing her campaign performance metrics. Unfortunately, the ATS couldn't decipher the table and Sarah's application was rejected. In today's digital age, understanding and adapting to ATS systems is crucial and can increase your chances of getting noticed by recruiters. #recruiters #jobseekers #hiringadvice #jobtips #resumetips