The world is changing, growth is the new constant, and in this ever-changing world, if anything is growing rapidly, it is the availability of jobs, and the screening of resumes that comes along with it. The need to screen hundreds of resumes, each different from one another is no small task, therefore calling the need for tools such as ATS. With tools so smart, it’s time to hit a higher notch in your CVs, or you will just get filtered with the crowd.
Understand ATS, and learn what you are getting into.
Applicant Tracking System, or ATS as it is commonly called is a screening tool used by recruiters to handle the heavy inflow of resumes coming in. The software has revolutionised the entire process of shortlisting. While it has considerably reduced the load for the recruiter, it brings in new problems for applicants, as they lack familiarity.
Why is an ATS-friendly resume so important?
Out through the initial screening process, and still wondering what was wrong with your CV? Or, is a CV too plain that it never made it through the first cycle? Maybe it’s time to realise that your CV fell short in the ATS screening round. For this reason, let’s dive in to understand why is an ATS-friendly
resume important:
- New Openings: Putting ATS to use, you can set it as a screener, or a banner to announce all the new openings out there. It can be set up as a portal to set up multiple job onboarding and hiring alerts for multiple roles simultaneously.
- Resume Screening: Keywords are an important part of the entire screening process. The system is fed with a list of important keywords relevant to the role being applied to, or the post opening by the recruiter or some other entity. The ATS just sweeps through the resume in search of these keywords, giving higher relevance to the ones with it, and needless to ask, it’s obvious what happens to the CVs which don’t make it through.
- Schedule the interviews: ATS isn’t just good for screening purposes alone, the tool is engraved deep for efficient hiring, and the versatility of the same is evident from the fact that it can be used to track the data of the applicants, and even better, schedule the interview process for the candidates that get shortlisted.
Why are keywords so important?
With the times changing drastically, well-curated resumes, decorated and adorned with the right set of attributes are important, but it is much more essential to boil it all down to the keywords you put in, how you highlight the use of each one of them, and what they have to say about you.
Even the most well-put CVs can turn to waste if the keywords don’t show up on the particular CV. No recruiter has got enough time to screen multiple CVs, hence the use of ATS. The keywords are ultimate, and unless and until you are aware of what you are supposed to be working on, there’s no way you can be prepared to take it on.
A single pro-tip to cracking the art of keywords is to take on the job requirements and description in totality and think along the lines of crucial keywords that would help highlight the same in your CV. The moment you get into the headspace of a recruiter, you will be able to offer exactly what they might be looking for.
FAQs
- How do I get my CV to pass the ATS?
Ans- The trick to passing the ATS is to include relevant keywords, and templates which work well with the tool, and follow the formatting which will be accepted by the ATS tool.
- What are the ATS keywords for a resume?
Ans- ATS keywords are all those specific terms that a recruiter hopes to find in your resume. These keywords highlight the parameters a recruiter is looking for, without the need to screen each CV in detail.
- How to find the keywords for ATS?
Ans- The keywords can be picked out from the job description itself, or jumping in deeper, understanding the role and picking keywords according to that can sometimes prove useful.
- How to check if a CV is ATS compliant?
Ans- To ensure that your CV is well aligned with the ATS prerequisites, use suitable keywords, and follow the basic formatting patterns on a preferred layout for the CV.
- Why is ATS rejecting my CV?
Ans- If your CV lacks the keywords set in for a respective position, or due to some simple formatting issues, there are chances your CV might not make it through the screening round.