How to Hack the Applicant Tracking System in Your Job Search
5 min read
In today's HR process, most companies use an Applicant Tracking System, or ATS, to narrow down their choices.
Written by Lisa G.
Illustration by Mayara Lista
You've searched and searched. You've sent in application after application, resume after resume. You made sure everything was proofread, you used strong verbs to start each bullet point, and your contact information was accurate. So, why haven't you gotten any calls from prospective employers begging you to interview for them? It's because no human being is even seeing your resume.
Technology has made things simpler for just about everyone, recruiters and hiring staff included. Gone are the days of sifting through hundreds of resumes and applications submitted by applicants who don't even meet the basic criteria. In today's hiring process, most companies use an Applicant Tracking System, or ATS, to narrow down their choices.
How does the applicant tracking system (ATS) Work?
Most major employers require you to submit an online application and a digital version of your resume. Various ATS systems are used to screen your application or your resume file looking for keywords, phrases, and job titles that the employer has told the system to specifically look for. If you don't include any of these keywords, or if the ATS cannot read the info in your file, the ATS will "toss" your resume before it ever gets into the hands of a human being.
How can I hack the ATS?
Luckily, there are steps you can take to make sure your resume gets looked at by the hiring manager or team. Now, it does require a bit more work invested upfront, but it's better than doing the work of applying just to get tossed in the trash, right?
K.I.S.S. = Keep It Super Streamlined
In an effort to go above and beyond using the generic built-in Microsoft Word templates, you might be tempted to download one of those stunning infographic resumes or a creative, non-traditional resume in order to stand out amongst the competition. However, even though ATS is a relatively newfangled technology, it prefers its resumes to be a bit old-school. The ATS has a hard time reading fancy fonts and deciphering clever headings; it can't glean your information from an embedded graphic, it cannot read the content in a header or footer, and it cannot properly scan a black resume. If it can't locate the information it seeks, the ATS might conclude that your resume is incomplete and into the trash it goes. Or it might overlook vital technology skills that you presented as a graphic instead of words.
Additionally, the ATS is programmed to look for certain information under certain headings, so keep the standard headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Certifications, Contact, Skills & Technology, Publications, Awards & Recognitions, etc. -- whatever is appropriate to your experience and the role.
So, unless you are applying for a graphic designer, illustrator, or creative advertising position, resist the temptation to design a resume that uses up an entire cartridge worth of ink or starts as a paper airplane. Instead, stick with a minimal, streamlined resume that is easy-to-read and properly formatted.
Keywords are key
The ATS also scans for keywords and phrases related to the job, so, you need to include those keywords in your resume somehow. Don't overdo it and have just a wall of meaningless jargon and buzzwords; find natural ways to work them into your resume or application.
How do you find those keywords? Read the job posting carefully. Note any words that really stand out as important or are repeated, and note the hard and soft skills, software or technology, and previous work experience or degrees that the employer is searching for.
If they require you to have advanced skills in Adobe Photoshop or know basic HTML coding, then incorporate those exact words and phrases into your resume. Make sure you match their usage accurately -- for example, if the job post says you need to know "search engine optimization," then their ATS might not recognize it if you abbreviate it as "SEO."
Follow directions
This cannot be stressed enough. Follow the directions given to you in the job post. If they say that they only want applications via their website, then do NOT email them or apply to the position via a third-party site like Indeed or Linkedin. If they want you to format your work experiences as "job title - name of employer (mm/yy-mm/yy)," give them precisely that. If they ask you to incorporate the word "eggplant" somewhere in your job application, you better find a way. They can program the ATS to look for these very specific things and toss anyone who simply cannot follow directions.
Also, very important is that you follow any instructions for what format your files should be in. Ideally, they will tell you if they want a file as a Word Document, PDF, hard copy, smoke signal, etc. PDF is tempting because it will preserve any fonts or special formatting you may have used. However, some ATS scanners consider PDFs to be just one big image and will get no information from them. So, Microsoft Word, then? Some ATS scanners can't even read ".docx" file formats, so be safe and save it just as a ".doc."
You could send your resume in both formats -- PDF and .doc -- so that the ATS has no excuse for not being able to read your file. Some suggest going so far as to submit your resume in plain text (.txt) format with no special anything, just to be sure. If anything, it might be wise to call or send a follow-up email to the recruiter or HR manager to double-check that they received your files in the necessary format.
As a job seeker, knowing your audience is half the battle. When you are submitting a job application or resume, you must take the ATS into account as well as the hiring manager or CEO. When recruiters receive hundreds or thousands of applications or resumes each day, the ATS helps them use their time more wisely. Use your time wisely, too, by tailoring your resume to each new position you apply for so you can beat the ATS. We’re here to guide you along the way!
