A properly optimized resume can help you land your dream job.
Your resume may be the key to landing your dream job, but it can only serve its purpose if you optimize it properly. Unknown to many, 72% of resumes are never seen by the hiring manager since majority of large companies (about 75%) use an automated software application known as the applicant tracking system or ATS to handle their recruitment needs. At present, smaller businesses have also started using the ATS to organize information on their prospective employees.
How Does the ATS Work?
The ATS is responsible for sorting through all the resumes and determining which applicants are best suited for the position they are applying for. Basically, this is accomplished by matching keywords in the resume to the keywords they are programmed to accept for the position. After filtering the applications based on the given criteria, it will then assign you a score to determine your suitability for the job.
Tips in Optimizing Your Resume
To rank higher in your prospective employer?s ATS and increase your chances of landing your dream job, here are some simple yet effective tips that can help you accomplish your objective.
Use the right keywords. Read the job listing and identify the keywords used by the hiring manager in advertising the position they are looking to fill. Use these keywords in your resume whenever possible since these are the exact words the ATS is looking for.
Do away with irrelevant information. Don?t include any irrelevant information in your resume since it will only end up as wasted space.
Don?t include images and graphics. The ATS cannot process images and graphics so don?t bother attaching your photo (no matter how good you think you look) or any logos and fancy monograms to your resume. They may even put your resume at a great disadvantage so use informative text instead.
Tailor your resume for each position. Invest some time and effort in modifying your resume to fit the requirements of the position you are applying for. This simple step can help you put your best foot forward, increase your chances of being included in the shortlist of candidates and impress your hiring manager.
Keep it simple. Keep in mind that you are dealing with an automated system so stick with standard web-friendly fonts such as Arial, Courier, Georgia, Impact, Lucida and Trebuchet. Avoid using fancy borders and shading, and stay away from special characters since these may cause disorganization or clipping when parsing your information.
