If you read my last blog, you would have learn that applicant tracking system (ATS) automates an organisation’s recruiting and staffing operations, providing a central repository for candidate data—including CVs and the applications process.

In the ever-changing world we live in, automation and speed can be the differentiator between whether recruitment agencies land the client, place the candidate, or book the interview.

Using features of an ATS like VMS integrations, Back Office and Onboarding solutions, and Appointment reminders will take what was manual work and create a seamless, automated process.

More than 1/4 of all companies use some kind of an applicant tracking system to manage applications and candidates, and this number continues to grow. ATS software is more likely to be used in large companies (more than 100 employees) and certain industries — technology, healthcare, and government organizations. Unless you’re personally handing your resume to the hiring manager, it’s possible an ATS might be used in the applicant screening process.

So how do YOU over come this and land an interview?

Keep reading for some hand hints

1. Distribute keywords throughout your CV from the listed job description.

Stuck about how to identify relevant keywords and phrases?

• Find 6-8 job postings for the type of position you want. Copy the text from the ad into a Microsoft Word document.

• Select all the text and copy it to your clipboard.

• Go to www.tocloud.com to create a tag cloud.

• Paste your selected text into the “text” box and generate the word cloud.

  The word cloud will reveal keywords and phrases that are relevant to the type of job you’re seeking. The larger the word appears, the more relevant it is for that type of position.

You can also use Google’s Keyword tool to find keywords to make your resume more effective with applicant tracking systems.

2. Saving your file

Save and send your resume in a common format. The ATS will work best with Microsoft Word .doc or .docx. You can send your resume as PDF but beware that some ATS systems struggle to scan these documents properly.

3. Keep formatting simple

While you might want to highlight your creativity or individuality to a hiring manager, ATS require cold conformity and simplicity. Therefore, you’ll need to delete any extra touches you’ve added to your resume, like logos, pictures, symbols, and shadings. Also, stick to standard CV formatting in a normal font like Arial, Courier, or Times New Roman—the ATS can’t read fancy fonts and will reject your resume out of confusion.

4. Contact information

The main body of the resume is critical — some ATS software cannot read header/footer information, so if you include contact information in those sections, it may not be read. (And remember, geographic location can be used as a filter.)

5. Qualifications

Try to make your qualifications relate to the specific job. What software packages and technical skills does this role require? Do you need to have any specialist industry qualifications like the CFA or ACCA? Remember to include both the acronym and the keyword or phrase.

Make sure you have an impressiveCV