Deepening Keywords for Better ATS Positioning
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they're getting smarter, so as resume writers, we'll need to keep up.
We must write robust resumes that are keyword-rich and ATS-friendly to keep our clients competitive amongst stiff competition.
The first strategy for improving the ATS effectiveness of your resumes is to use a key phrase as well as the known acronym.
Here are a few examples:
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
- Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)
- Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
- Request For Quote/Request For Information (RFQ/RFI)
Avoid putting both forms in too many places in the resume.
This has more to do with the finished look of the content and less to do with ATS.
The second strategy is to use different word combos to describe the same things.
For example, instead of PPEs, you could write “safety gear” or “protective clothing.”
For OEMs, you could use alternative descriptors, such as contract manufacturers or industrial parts makers.
Strategies like these will deepen the relevance of the content we write.
