ATS, Applicant Tracking Systems – what are they and how do we optimise our CVs for them?
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) have become commonplace in recruitment to say the least. Online CV templates and CV writers consistently quote their 100% efficacy with every ATS. So, do we need to be worried about them?
An ATS is a software companies use to manage the recruitment process. They automate the collection, sorting, and management of job applications. Organisations use them because they can handle large volumes of job applications and make recruitment much more efficient. Any organisation with considerable size is very likely to be using an ATS to some extent.
Since we know it is a software handling our CV initially, how do we make sure that we put our CV in the best position to progress? At Career Ready Consulting we automatically account for Applicant Tracking Systems with our approach. But, if you want to write your CV alone, follow these principles to give yourself an opportunity:
1. Use a Simple Format: Avoid complex layouts, graphics, and images – an ATS will struggle to read them. Keep our CV style simple & clean.
2. Focus on Keywords: Use job descriptions to include relevant keywords. Many Applicant Tracking Systems parse keywords when filtering CVs to pick out the best candidates so this is essential.
3. Use Plain Text & Document Types: Keep our CV formatting simple and in word docs or pdf versions, making it easier for the ATS to read.
4. Avoid Headers and Footers: Important information shouldn’t be in headers or footers. Some Applicant Tracking Systems may struggle to read these sections
In conclusion, Applicant Tracking Systems are commonplace in recruitment nowadays. Do we need to account for them? Sure, but we don’t need to be concerned if we keep to some key principles. Keep our CV format simple & clean, ensure to include keywords, and do not include important info in graphics, images or headers & footers. In doing this, we significantly improve our chances of progressing, regardless of Applicant Tracking Systems.
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