ATS Defined & How to Produce ATS-Friendly Resumes
With all the chatter about applicant tracking systems (ATS), you'd think they were some magical beast that needed slaying. In reality, ATSs are nothing more than human-created software.
A decade ago, ATS were resume databases. In fact, during their initial years, these systems were routinely referred to as resume management systems (RMS). Their functionality was basic, enabling HR managers to search for resumes based on specific content or definers, such as the name given to the resume or position applied to.
As time passed, resume management systems (RMS) became known as applicant tracking systems (ATS) after becoming much more sophisticated for HR managers and recruiters to leverage to their benefit. No longer were resumes (professionals) searched and found using crude resume databases. Modern ATS offers a ton of functionality to include add-ons that manage hiring tasks, such as:
- Resume Parsing
- Skills matching
- Candidate onboarding
- Communications/chatbots
- Interview Scheduling
- New-hire training
- Data analysis
- Real-time reporting
- Candidate Shortlisting
There are an estimated 600+ (up from about 200 just a few short years ago) applicant tracking systems on the market globally.
With this many, there are bound to be rockstars and duds. Some are proprietary, meaning they were developed internally. In contrast, others are known as software as a service (SaaS), which means employers purchase access to cloud-available recruiting software. A few of the most common SaaS ATS solutions include Google Workspace, Taleo, Workday, and iCIMS.
Why has ATS popularity grown so significantly in recent years? ATS solutions, such as those provided by Oracle, integrate with other programs, such as workforce management, payroll, and legal/HR compliance, which improves processing, compliance, analytics, and reporting across multiple departments and business agendas.
So, what do resume writers need to concern themselves with ATS? Simply put, resume writers need to ensure the resumes they write "behave" optimally when put into these systems. That doesn't sound so tough, right? It's not, as long you know a few ground rules from the onset. Let's take a peek at some of those:
5 Tips to Ensuring The Resumes You Write Are ATS-Friendly
First, ATS interprets (aka "reads") the content on each page. Because of this, there are basic formatting guidelines to follow when developing resumes. Start with common header titles and refrain from using ALL CAPS for select content — because ATS can, at times, mistake CAPS IN CONTENT as a signal to a new section/header. Is this always 100% true? From first-hand experience, we know that software can be smart and dumb at any given time, so we wouldn't presume one ATS to act the same as another. By adhering to a standard resume format, we increase the odds of content being "read" accurately by many of the applicant systems.
Second, ATS looks for skills (aka keywords) within resume content. Although ATS seems very mysterious and powerful, these systems are still very keyword-driven. This means optimizing the content you write to include relevant and recent job tasks that introduce ideal keywords and key phrases throughout the resumes you write.
Third, ATS considers skills synonyms as a way to deepen the candidate pool by considering alternatives with search parameters, industry terminology/jargon, etc. 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. This is why it's essential that you utilize different word combinations (synonyms) throughout your content.
Fourth, ATS doesn't always "see" graphics, pie charts, and text boxes. Can you include these items within your resumes? Absolutely. However, you'll want to ensure that any critical content you include within graphics, charts, and boxes is included elsewhere within the resumes, or you run the risk of losing those details should ATS ignore those features.
Fifth, ATS does sometimes require stealthy strategies. For example, when using known phrases, be sure to include their well-known acronyms, too. This strategy strengthens the keyword richness of the content you write and potentially gives your clients a competitive edge. Here are a few examples to consider:
- 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)
CAUTION: Avoid putting both forms in more than one place in the same resume as doing this may make the resume content look excessively repetitive.
