By: Swarupa Patra (LinkedIn)
It is very common for large companies to receive hundreds of CVs, if not thousands for some of their advertised roles. This requires too much time and manpower to find the perfect candidate out of the whole lot of the applications. And so, ATS comes into play, to find the company’s future employee. It has been found that 98% of large companies use ATS and 75% of CVs are never even seen by the person in charge of shortlisting applications.
With ATS becoming more widely used, you need to know how to pass the system to get shortlisted and go to the next stage in the selection process. This article goes on to explain how to write the perfect CV for an ATS screening. However, do not be mistaken, these tips are also appropriate for when it comes to writing a good CV to be read by a human.
What is ATS?
ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System and is a software to collect, sort, scan, and rank all of the CVs. It is used by companies that receive large volumes of applications to reduce human effort and streamline all of the applications to make the hiring task easier for employers.
ATS is essentially a robot, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) software application, that is used to simplify the recruitment process and carry out the first round of selections, where usually large percentage of applications are rejected.
How does ATS work?
Depending on the role, the software looks for particular keywords on your CV and matches them to the advertised position’s criteria. The CVs with accurately matched keywords are passed on to the recruiters to review them in person.
The more matches found by the ATS, the higher of a ranking the CV gets and the better preferability by the hiring company. If the CV does not meet the basic list of requirements, it is immediately binned. This is aimed at saving the time and efforts by the recruiters, who are only looking at applications that are suitable for the role. ATS gets rid of all the unqualified applicants that didn’t have enough desirable keywords in their CV.
For example, when applying for a tax manager position, ATS finds:
The CV writes:
“Highly-driven software developer with 5+ years of experience in web applications and network infrastructure. Proven experience of success, employer satisfaction, and strong communication skills.”
Keywords found by ATS:
- “software developer”
- “5+ years of experience”
- “web applications”
- “network infrastructure”
- “employer satisfaction”
- “strong communication skills”
Comparing with the list of requirements:
Found: “software developer”, “5+ years of experience”, “employer satisfaction”, “communication skills”
Not found: “Analytical skills”, “Microsoft Office “
Why does your CV need to be ATS compatible?
With ATS being used more and more every day, and with more and more candidates applying, more and more applications are also being discarded every day. You are not realising it, but there probably are a few flaws in your CV that cause it to quickly get rejected by ATS softwares.
The most common errors found by studies are:
- Omission of keywords – instead, descriptions are used and the ATS does not pick up on them.
- Fancy formatting – does not convert properly to plain-text.
- 25% of CVs have contact information in the Header.
- 43% of CVs are submitted in a file type that is incompatible with ATS systems.
- 21% of CVs include charts and graphics that cannot be seen in plain-text documents.
How to create an ATS CV?
Here are some of the key tips for creating an ATS-friendly CV.
Simple formatting – ATS is a type of robot that does not understand fancy stylings.
- Use a traditional font (e.g. Times New Roman or Helvetica) and layout (no dark or colourful background) to make sure your CV in read by ATS.
- Highlight your achievements and make lists with bullet points. (Choose a simple bullet point design, like the circles used in this article.)
- List any experience in reverse-chronological order, i.e. starting with the most recent.
- When stating dates, use the MM/YYYY format.
- Keep all of your text in the main body, i.e. do not use Headers or Footers.
The right file type – Unless stated, PDF versions are usually not compatible with ATS system. However, .doc and .docx files are, so you should stick to Word document files.
- Also, ensure your filename is suitable.
Legibility – use language understandable by ATS.
- Some ATS systems cannot read abbreviations like MBA or MD, therefore you should use both, the full form and abbreviation.
- E.g. Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA)
- Incorporate keywords relevant to the job into the CV; these are what ATS is searching for. Parse through a few job descriptions for similar roles to what you are applying for, to find some suitable keywords.
- Include job-related skills and action verbs.
- Use meaningful headings, i.e. list all of your skills under “Skills”. Remember that ATS is a software program, so it needs to be guided through your CV and be alerted to look for any skill-related keywords in this section.
Avoid confusions – ATS converts your CV to a plain-text document and so your CV must be understood in this format.
- Charts and graphics are not visible in plain-text and end up becoming garbled information or removed from the document. They look nice but have a negative effect on ATS.
- Do not use hyperlinks as they are void in plain-text documents, use the full URL.
Finally, ATS is a software with memory. Do not apply for multiple roles in the same company. The ATS system will catch your multiplicity which doesn’t portend well.
With these tips you will be able to write a great CV that can be understood by ATS and also hopefully land you the role you have been looking for. However, there are some ways to check if your CV is ATS-friendly.
- Copy your CV into a plain-text document, and check to see that it is legible and none of your relevant information missing.
- There are applications online to check if your CV in ATS-compatible. You will first need to copy your CV into a plain-text document and then into the application.
Now you know how to write a CV that will be within the small percentage of CVs which will be assessed by a pair of eyes.
For further help on how to write an effective CV to stand out in the market, read our other blogs:
– How to craft your CV post Covid-19
Copyright © Softest Consulting Services Ltd