Have you been in this scenario? You see a job posting and get excited reading how it describes you and your dream job. You are confident that you are most qualified for the position, so you submit an application and attach your resume. The next day comes and you check your email and phone constantly, waiting for that call for an interview. The whole week passes and you would get excited as the phone rings and the email dings, only to be disappointed that it is not the call or an email you have been waiting for. Days, weeks, and months go by. No call, no email, no interview, nothing. So you move on and do it again. You find a job posting, submit an application, and upload your resume. You do it again and again as an active job seeker. But it’s the same result each time. No calls, no emails, no interviews.
Unfortunately, gone are the days when you can simply hand your resume to a human hand for possible employment. It is undeniable that the job application process has changed. Everything is done online and has turned automated. In most cases, the first reader of your resume is not a human being. It is the robot deciding whether your resume has enough keywords to pass the scanning process so it can be read by an actual person. Chances are, if you have been submitting applications and not getting any responses, yours is tossed by the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) prior to being read by someone. You might even get the message saying the company has moved on with other candidates, wishing you the best in your job search. But this is also an automated email sent to you by a robot!
So why is this happening to you? Here are some possibilities:
The bots have been tossing your application.
When you apply online, the first reader of your resume is the Applicant Tracking System, also known as the ATS. It is a type of software that scans your resume based on set parameters. Hence, no matter how qualified you are, you can be passed over for not having the keywords the bots are looking for. Companies use this software to save the hiring personnel time by filtering hundreds of resumes before reviewing what the bots decided deserves a review. However, it can be a dilemma for job applicants if the resume is not written in a way that passes the ATS. To get around this, read through the job posting and see how you can connect keywords from the posting to the experience listed in your resume.
Your resume is not keyword optimized.
Now that we understand how the ATS can easily toss applications, the next step
is to know how to beat the bots. The most important thing to remember is that one resume does not fit all. Every job posting indicates what they are looking for and if your resume does not strongly reflect those qualifications, you can forget about receiving an invite for an interview.
You might see a “tip” that says to copy the job posting and add it to your resume in a tiny white font to “beat” the ATS. We do not recommend this practice! Instead, focus on how your background and accomplishments reflect the job posting and move forward with integrity.
You used features the ATS is unable to recognize.
This often happens when you use a template with preset formatting. To avoid this problem, remember these tips:
Do not use text boxes or design software to create your resume. Stick to a Word document and save it as a PDF file before submitting.
Avoid photos and graphics. These can trip up ATS software.
Preset templates can look great in person, but can get your resume tossed by ATS software. Keep your resume clean and focus on the content of your keywords and accomplishments.
Bonus tip- Networking is key.
Getting your resume past the ATS is only the first step in landing your dream job, especially when applying online. While these tips can be great for job-seeking in the digital landscape, networking is key! Making genuine industry connections can be beneficial for job seekers and employers. It can help you access opportunities that might not be published online as well as build connections that can be useful further down the line in your career.
What questions do you have about networking? Let us know in the comments and keep an eye out for future blogs on how to succeed at networking.
At Upward Prize, we specialize in working with job seekers to build a keyword-optimized and targeted resume. We will partner with you to make sure your resume stands out even among ATS software. Give us a call to see how we can work together to help you connect with the right company and achieve your goals!
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