On average there’s typically about 250 to 300 applicants for any corporate job opening. To weed out these numbers to a manageable sum, HR Managers and Recruiters rely on Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) that scans your resume in seconds to determine whether you’re qualified. As a way to get past the initial scan and continue onto the path to an interview, follow some of the below tips.
1. Include company name and correct job title
While it might take longer to submit, make sure to take the time to include the company name and the job title you are applying for in your summary or resume objective. Even consider adding the company’s URL address. For example, “Seeking to advance my career with the team at MYR Group, https://myrgroup.com/, for the Assistant Project Manager Position.”
2. Review the job description
A good place to find keywords is the job description on the job posting. Mimic the words you see there. For example, if they say they’re looking for someone with five years of experience managing a sales pipeline then state that you have five years managing a sales pipeline (if of course, you do). Use the words and phrases directly from the job description to tailor your resume for a specific job.
3. Make sure to spell out all acronyms and years
Don’t expect the ATS to understand an acronym you decide to use, even common ones may not be picked up. Instead be prepared to spell out everything. For example, if you earned an MBA, write it as Master of Business Administration. To balance between the human eye and the software, write the abbreviation in parenthesis after the term, such as Master of Business Administration (MBA). By the same token, when putting down a year, make sure it’s 2021 and not 21.
4. Focus on hard skills and active voice
Focus on technical skills, credentials including certifications or licenses, position titles, and software or tools relevant to the industry. Sprinkle the words throughout the resume, not just in a skills section. Make sure you use active verbs, not passive. Instead of “Engineering department of 15 people was managed by me,” rewrite it to be “Managed a 15-person staff engineering department.” This way you actively managed a department. It sounds better and more than likely will be selected into the ATS system as a keyword. Also try to use as many tangible metrics as you can, when showcasing your work. If you have any numbers related accomplishments, include them. An example might be “Reworked several internal processes resulting in increased efficiencies and an overall 20% reduction in cost.”
5. Avoid jargon or overused words
While you want to include a variety or versions of a keyword (creator and developer, for example), you also want to avoid using certain words. Some terms, such as go-getter, results-driven, team player, hard worker, and self-motivated, can be over-used jargon. If you see the word in a job description then go ahead and use it but if you don’t, reconsider as these buzzwords may just take up valuable space. Instead of results-driven, write down what you resolved.