Follow These Simple Steps To Create An ATS Resume

Are you frustrated with your job hunt because you aren’t receiving enough interviews? If this is the case, you must construct an ATS resume.

The abbreviation for “applicant tracking system” is ATS. This is computer software that assists businesses in managing the hiring process by sorting and categorizing applications.

When you apply for a job, your resume is usually automatically entered into an ATS database. The issue is that if your CV isn’t optimized for an ATS, it may never reach a hiring manager.

There are two reasons for this:

• Your resume is not formatted correctly and the ATS can’t read it.
• Your resume doesn’t contain the keywords that a hiring manager is looking for.

Either way, the result is the same: rejection.

An ATS CV has a significantly better chance of being read by a hiring manager. More interviews and job offers follow as a result.

The good news is that creating an ATS resume is simple. This post will walk you through the process in three simple steps.

You shouldn’t utilize an ATS resume for every job application. Indeed makes it easy to reuse resumes. But tailoring each résumé to the job will improve results.

Is this slower? It’s more effective. Automated resume scanners like Jobscan’s speed up this procedure.

You’ll need the job description to create an ATS resume for a specific position.

After that, start!

Step 1: Identify then add the job title or experience to your resume heading.

The first step is to look at the very top of the job description. This is where you’ll find the job title or required experience you’ll need. Here’s an example:

Let’s say you want to apply to this job. On your resume, try to include the keywords “Senior Manager” and “Sales” in your headline.

A resume headline is a brief summary of your professional identity. It appears at the top of your resume, just below your contact information.

It’s important to include the keywords “senior manager” and “sales” in your headline because a hiring manager will likely type those exact same keywords into an ATS when they search for suitable candidates.

Here are some examples of what your resume headline could look like if you were applying for this job:

• Accomplished senior manager and sales leader focused on delivering outstanding results.
• Dynamic senior manager with a strong background in sales and business development.
• Senior manager with extensive sales experience and a knack for building high-performing teams.

Now that you’ve got your resume headline optimized for the ATS, it’s time to work on the rest of your resume.

Step 2 – Identify the essential keywords

Next, carefully study the rest of the job description and highlight the most common abilities or keywords.

These are usually hard skills.. Experience and training give hard skills.

Technical writing, data analysis, graphics, project management, Python, Java, and Salesforce are challenging skills.

This job description emphasizes “marketing,” a crucial skill. If you want a job interview, your resume needs this keyword.

The point is to use the same language on your resume that the hiring manager used in the job description. This will help your resume stand out.

Jobscan’s resume scanner simplifies this process. After you upload your resume and the job description to the scanner, it produces a Match Report. This report highlights the skills and keywords you should try to add to your resume.

Here’s an example of a Match Report:

In the above example, the term “required” means that those skills are crucial qualifications for the job.

Don’t add keywords just for the sake of adding them. Instead, tweak the keywords that already appear on your resume so they exactly match the keywords in the job description.

This is important because many ATS cannot differentiate between synonyms, abbreviations, or similar skills.

For example, if you have experience in “customer service” but the job description asks for “customer support,” your resume may not make it to the next round.

It’s also important to include both long-form versions of keywords and acronym versions. Let’s say you are a certified public accountant (CPA). You should try to include both “certified public accountant” and “CPA” on your resume.

This will ensure that your resume will be found by employers who are searching the ATS for either term.

If your resume has any searchability issues, the match report created by Jobscan’s resume scanner will point them out.

Step 3 – Format your ATS resume correctly

Finally, you need to make sure the formatting of your resume is ATS-friendly. If the ATS can’t read your resume, a hiring manager won’t locate it.

Job seekers desire attractive resumes, but, graphic design can mislead the ATS. Simple, easy-to-read designs are excellent.

Follow these tips for ATS-friendly resumes:

• Use simple, clear language. Using jargon or overly complicated language will just confuse the system.
  Stick to traditional resume section headers like “Education” and “Work Experience”. Avoid more creative headers like “Where I’ve Been”.
• Use a common, easy-to-read font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica for optimal readability.
• Make sure your margins are 1 inch on all sides so your resume doesn’t look crowded.
• Avoid using unnecessary graphics or embellishments. They can make your resume appear unprofessional and could confuse the ATS.
• Avoid using special characters or symbols that the system might misinterpret.
• Do NOT use tables and columns to help organize your resume. These can result in critical information getting garbled by the ATS.
• Use a Word document when you are creating your resume. This will ensure that it looks good and is easy for the ATS to read.

Check every resume you send out to make sure it’s formatted correctly. It’s no exaggeration to say that only one small mistake can ruin your chances of getting a job interview.

Again, Jobscan’s tool speeds up this process by highlighting any formatting issues you need to address.

Trying to create a resume can be difficult, especially if you are unfamiliar with the various sorts of resumes.

Jobscan provides free ATS-friendly resume templates to assist you in getting started. These professional templates are simple to use and come in a variety of forms, allowing you to select the one that best meets your needs.

Let’s quickly sum up what we’ve learned:

• An application tracking system (ATS) automates the hiring process.
• Recruiters type keywords into the ATS to search for candidates.
• These keywords are usually job titles or specific skills.
• You can find these keywords in the job description.
• Try to include the job title in your resume headline.
• The more your resume matches the job description, the higher your match rate.
• Your ATS resume format should be simple and easy to read.