What Is An ATS-Friendly Resume?

An ATS resume is a document made for the purpose of a job application that is able to pass through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). An ATS-optimized resume includes job-specific keywords, relevant skills, and qualifications required by the hiring managers. If your resume doesn't comply with these standards, it will not even reach the recruiters. There are many techniques to implement while preparing resumes that can help you pass an ATS check easily.

ATS software is used by most of the companies nowadays. This software scans your resume for specific resume keywords, unique skills, necessary qualifications, and phrases mentioned in the job listing. 

Hiring managers use a resume shortlisting software that gives rank to resumes received through applications. These resumes are ranked based on how well they match with the requirements and job description. 

Recruiters check the resume scores of all the applications received. The ones getting higher scores rank at the top of the list. Resumes with higher ATS scores are moved to the next round, whereas others are eliminated. Even small spelling or grammatical errors can be the reason behind resume rejections. This shows why it is important to craft an ATS resume that gets you hired.

You can check if your resume is ATS-Friendly or not through a manual check or free online resume review. Both the aspects are discussed here.

Manual Check:

You can manually check whether your resume is ATS compatible or still needs more adjustments. Follow the below mentioned steps: 

• Copy-Paste Test: One of the best ways to identify unusual fonts or texts in a resume is; copy all the content of your resume and paste it in the notepad. If the format doesn't look organised or any text shows an error. It means ATS software will face difficulty while scanning your resume. 

• Keyword Match: According to the job search plan, you should make a list of all the relevant keywords lying in the job description. Then, incorporate them into your resume without overloading too much content. But here you have to check whether those keywords are included in your resume. 

• Simple Layout: Check if your resume has a clean and simple resume format. Now graphics or tables should be included. As irrelevant content in your resume might result in a lower ATS score. 

Free Online Resume Review:

Manual checks can be time consuming and a very lengthy process. Nowadays AI tools are used for checking ATS compatibility of resumes. These tools scan resumes and help you check your resume's ATS score. You can also use mployee.me’s ResuScan to check your CV score and find mistakes in your resume. This tool saves your precious time and helps you in identifying errors in the resume.

Some tips to prepare an ATS-Friendly Resume are:

• Customize Your Resume for Each Job Application: Customising your resume also makes it ATS-friendly because every job description has different keywords and if you use the same resume for every job. You will keep failing the resume shortlisting round. So, only use specific skills, qualifications, and keywords that are relevant to the job you are applying for. 

• Use Standard Formatting: Most of the applicants try to make their resume beautiful with colourful designs and graphics. But, this is absolutely incorrect, using irrelevant images, graphics or colourful themes doesn't make any difference. Instead, recruiters and ATS software always prefer a simple and normal layout of the resume. So, always use a stand formatting for your resume such as fonts, format, or columns. Clear headers and simple formatting help your resume pass ATS checks and also make it easy for the recruiter to analyse. 

• Optimize for Keywords but Avoid Keyword Stuffing: It has been analysed that candidates try to incorporate every keyword in their resume and then they overload it with too many keywords. You have to understand that keywords are important for passing an ATS resume scanner. But excessive use of keywords may affect negatively and result in elimination. Thus, you have to use these keywords smartly to showcase your skills and experiences. Establish a balance to maintain the authenticity of your resume. You can also use our resume keywords software to find the most relevant keywords through the job description and job postings. 

• Use a Professional Filename: Always follow the prescribed file name format by the recruiter. Most commonly, your resume documents should be renamed as “your_name_Resume”. A clear filename helps hiring managers to identify your resume and also keeps it professional. Always save your resume in PDF or .docx format because these formats show your resume with perfect alignment.

• Use an ATS-Friendly Resume Template: Most important thing for making your resume pass ATS resume scanners is an ATS-friendly resume template. Nowadays you can find many free resume templates on the internet, but you have to make sure that you choose the best one. A good template is a simple, clean and textual resume. Avoid using irrelevant graphics or columns in your resume. 

• Proofread and Test Your Resume: Now the last thing is to check your resume score. Review your resume through reading and analysing. Check for grammatical errors and formatting mistakes and then take necessary actions to correct them. Even one simple error can result in elimination from the preliminary shortlisting round. So, review your resume carefully. You can also use ResuScan, our resume tools to find mistakes and check your resume scores within seconds.

Now you have to understand how ATS-friendly resumes have become very important for best job suggestions. You have to be aware of AI tools such as job description keywords finder or ATS resume checkers. 

By understanding and implementing the above guide, you can enhance your job search. As mentioned, the simple, customized and strategic keywords formatting can make a huge difference for getting selected. Remember, in this digital era of finding jobs, you have to hone the art of making an ATS-friendly resume.