Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are types of software designed to help employers and recruiters find and hire the most suitable person for a position. They scan and store CVs, sort applications, build shortlists and move standout applicants through to the next step of recruitment – a real person. They’re efficient and automatic but also narrowly focused. So how can you ‘beat’ ATS to get your CV read by real person?
You can’t ‘beat’ ATS.
I’ve read lots of articles online with tips on how to beat the system and the truth is that you can’t. There is not just one ATS, but hundreds, and different companies use different Applicant Tracking Systems for their own purposes. On top of that, every ATS works slightly differently. However, like many things in life, although we may not be able to beat it, we can understand it, adapt to it and learn how to use it to help us achieve our goals. In short – try to be friends with it. Maybe even take it out for lunch.
How can you optimise your CV for ATS?
You may not be able to beat it, but there are ways that you can make your CV succeed within the ATS framework. Think of it as learning how to become noticeable to ATS. For example:
Maximise keywords
Recruiters and hiring managers use job-specific keywords in their ads. These keywords are then used within the ATSwhere the system is automated to look out for them and rank CVs with them. So, study the job ad to identify those keywords and phrases then incorporate the majority of these into your CV – and cover letter. It doesn’t need to be festooned like a Christmas tree with these keywords – you’re right in thinking it needs to read well when a person gets to it at some point – but it does need to be keyword-rich so it gets passed on to that human stage. Think enough baubles to get noticed, not so many that it falls over.
Tailoring
Are you tailoring your CV to each targeted role? If not, you should be. A generic, one-size-fits-all CV is a waste of your time and the recruiter’s. Your time is valuable. Use it well
Have you included the appropriate skills on your CV? Have you incorporated keywords chosen specifically for thetargeted role? Keep in mind that an automated system is programmed to look for a list of words or phrases. The ATS has its list and it’s checking it twice, and it doesn’t do nuance or subtlety. Use all that industry-specific jargon. It’s things like that which position you as an experienced specialist in your field
Keep it simple
ATS doesn’t like elaborate CVs with lots of bells, whistles and fancy graphics. Keep your formatting simple.
ATS doesn’t read everything. It doesn’t look into text boxes, tables, logos, headers and footers. So, for example, if you have your contact details wrapped up in a header, take it out so it can be seen by an ATS
Use simple bulletpoints, white space and a professional-looking, clear font such as Calibri or Lato
If you use acronyms, such as, I was a volunteer for WHO, also write them out in full. ATS doesn’t always recognise these abbreviations. Instead, write something like – volunteer for WHO (World Health Organisation)
Use CV sections and titles that are standard such as Professional Experience or Key Skills. ATS will notice these and keep reading. When you write ‘Work Stuff’ it will skip past it and your important information will be missed
Be professional
If you have an email address that is fun, but maybe not professional, change it to something more appropriate. Even if it is an email address that you just have for your job search
Are your contact details correct? Of course they are, you type them all the time and you’d never make a simple typing mistake like a comma for a full stop. Check these details, check them twice!
In fact, triple-check your spelling and formatting throughout your CV. It is simple and quick to use an online spellchecker such as Grammarly or an in-built one such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs but they don’t replace the human eye so use them but don’t rely on them. You won’t regret making certain by asking someone else to look it over. Then check it again yourself, word by word, line by line. A seemingly minor typo or spelling mistake such as ‘Soles’ instead of ‘Sales’ isn’t always picked up and can not only demonstrate a lack of professionalism but also not get your CV past ATS because it didn’t include the keyword ‘Sales’. Rather important if you’re going for a sales role!
Websites such as Jobscan can be useful to get a view of the key skills. But I warn you, approach with caution, as they score on how you repeat words from the job ad which you would never see on a CV. They, of course, also want you to pay, but if you are smart you can see the feedback for what it is and use the information to your advantage.
So, play nice with ATS and it will be your friend. Ignore it at your peril.
If you’d like a professional review of your CV to check for ATS and human-reader compatibility, why not book a free call and let’s chat about how to make your CV work hard for you. You can also have a look at my other blog posts on CVs, professional brand and careers.Â
What’s stopping you?
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash