An Applicant Tracking System, or ATS, is the screening software used by recruiters and HR professionals to weed out resumes that don’t match the jobs they’re looking to fill: Can your resume pass this technology test and make it to a human hiring influencer? Here’s some quick DOs and DON’Ts to creating a resume that doesn’t get caught in the filters and discarded!
DON’T
- Include graphics, headers, footers, shading, columns, text boxes
- Use templates or PDF format
- Place dates in unexpected places (on the left, hidden in paragraphs)
- Arrange your experience chronologically, use reverse order so your most recent experience is first
DO
- Upload an MSWord doc rather than copy and paste when you are given a choice
- Include standard section titles (Professional Experience, Education, Core Competencies, etc.)
- Place your name and contact information on the first line of each page
- Choose web-friendly fonts: Arial, Verdana, Calibri, or Tahoma, and use the same font throughout
- Place keywords in both lists AND within your job descriptions
- Target your resume to each desired position with the keywords in the ad
A certified professional resume writer can ensure that not only can your resume pass the technology test, but it will catch the eyes of hiring influencers and create interest in interviewing you. They can also give you additional, in-depth advice on how to customize your resume to each desired position. Interested? Contact us today for more information.
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