How to work ATS Software:

Writing an ATS-friendly resume is a top priority for anyone applying for a job. ATS, also known as Applicant Tracking Systems, are the software programs that scan and screen resumes for most companies.

The ATS scan can be as fast as 300 resumes per minute. That is 300 resumes per minute that the human resources department does not have to spend time on, as the machine expedites the screening process.

Use the resume to describe yourself, and demonstrate why you are a great candidate for the position.

I’ve highlighted the points below. Help you to understand how ATS software work and select the suitable candidates.

Readability score:

An ATS readability score is usually between 70-85. This is how many words in a document the ATS can understand (and therefore make a decision about) in one minute.

A good candidate will score at least 85, and most companies will want to see scores of at least 90-95.

It is important to keep your resume and cover letter short, and your resume should be broken up into sections.

Main Purpose of a Resume:

The resume’s purpose is to convince the hiring manager that you are a good candidate.

I’m in contact with three different HR professionals and each one has recommended a different resume template, so here are my thoughts on what you should include on your resume to have it read by ATS software.

When applying to a job, I don’t think you should try to impress the human resources person with fancy designs, but you certainly can’t say it in a way that makes the reader think you are a pushover. You have to sell yourself as someone who can handle the workload, and that doesn’t mean you should just copy/paste the same resume on all of your applications.

Resume Structure:

Made sure that your resume has a simple structure, which will allow the ATS to scan it and to easily read and process it.

Added a short description of myself.

Bullet points have different font sizes to make the resume easy to read.

Used bullet points and italicized text to keep the structure simple.

Resume File Type:

It doesn’t matter which platform you choose, just make sure you save it in a format that is machine-readable.

This can be confusing, so when creating your resume think about whether you are looking for a job as a computer programmer, accountant, or retail specialist.

ATS scanning platforms and software programs are written by programmers. These programs are looking for certain features that are specific to programmers.

I would recommend saving your resume in Microsoft Word (.doc) or similar file format. That is the only format that I know would work for the ATS scanner.

If you don’t know which file type to use, check the instruction manual for the scanner, or Google "ATS resume type". If you have a PDF, you can try to scan it, but it’s not recommended as the scanner can lose quality in the scanning process.

Advantages of Microsoft Word (.doc) file of resume the following are:

One of the benefits of the Microsoft Word (.doc) file format is its user-friendly ability to layout a professional looking resume.

You get to easily edit your resume as many times as you want.

You can then print it out for applications, or upload it to online job applications.

It also allows you to easily share your resume with others, which is a great way to get your resume noticed.

How to send your resume in order to apply for a job?

There are two different ways to attach a resume to an application

You can upload it to the web form, or you can email it to the employer. When emailing your resume, it’s often a good idea to attach a cover letter with it, as the cover letter is a personal message to the employer, and is just as important as the resume.

Conclusion:

As an HR person, This saves time and allows to focus on finding the right candidate.

Of course, we will still need to interview the candidates to find out if there is a fit with the company culture or not, and we have a better chance of finding the right person.