Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems

Many individuals think that ATS is just used for resumes, but in reality, there are several key functions of an ATS:

• Job Postings: Advertise job openings across multiple platforms easily.
• Applications: Collect and organize candidate applications.
• Candidate Information: Store and manage details of applicants.
• Communications: Handle all recruitment-related communication efficiently.
• Resume Parsing: Automatically extract relevant information from resumes.
• Automated Emails: Send out emails to candidates at different stages of the hiring process.
• Interview Scheduling: Coordinate interview times for candidates and hiring managers.
• Analytics: Gain insights into the recruitment process to make data-driven decisions.

Why is Understanding ATS Important for Job Seekers?

Many companies use ATS to filter and rank candidates before a human recruiter even sees the resumes. This means that your resume needs to be ATS-friendly to increase your chances of getting noticed.

ATS scans and organizes resumes, searching for relevant keywords and qualifications based on the job description. If your
resume doesn’t align with the ATS criteria, it may not reach the hiring manager, even if you are a great candidate.

1. Use Keywords Wisely

• Study the job description and incorporate keywords that match the required skills, qualifications, and experience.
• Avoid overloading your resume with keywords—focus on natural usage.
• Mirror the keywords. If a job description uses acronyms, it is best to use acronyms. If the job description uses the full name (ex., Artificial Intelligence), then use the full name in your resume.

PS: Keywords Matter, But Keep It Real: While incorporating keywords is crucial for getting past ATS filters, it’s equally important to ensure that the resume remains authentic and easy to read. Instead of stuffing keywords in an unnatural way, think about how to integrate them naturally

2. Choose a Simple Format

• Stick to a clean layout without complex designs, images, colors, columns, or charts. Because ATS might have a hard time detecting those.
• Use standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman and save your resume as a .docx or PDF file.
• Keep a consistent format throughout the resume.

3. Optimize Section Titles

• Use standard headings like "Work Experience," "Education," and "Skills" to ensure the ATS recognizes them.

4. Avoid Acronyms Without Explanation

• Spell out terms like "Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)" before using the acronym alone.

5. Tailor Your Resume for Each Job

• Customize your resume for every position by aligning it with the specific job requirements. This doesn’t mean you need to create a new resume for every application, however you will want to recognize if the job description highlights skills that you may have as your third or fourth bullet point; you could consider raising that bullet point to one of the first so that it can more easily be found.

You’ve applied for a job, and now you are in the waiting game. Here is what happens on the employer’s side when they evaluate your job materials using an ATS.

Step 1: All the job requirements are entered into the ATS by the employer. These requirements contain details like desired skills, position, experience, etc.

Step 2: Using these requirements, ATS prepares some kind of ideal profile that fulfills all the requirements of the company.

Step 3: As applicants or job-seekers submit their resumes, the ATS uses a process called resume parsing to extract relevant information from the resumes, such as contact details, work experience, skills, and other key data.

Step 4: The parsed data from resumes is stored in a centralized database within the ATS. This database is easy for recruiters and hiring managers to search and manage applicant’s data.

Step 5: ATS systems use algorithms to sort and filter applications based on specific criteria set by the employer.

• Criteria may include keywords, skills, education, and experience.

Step 6: ATS platforms provide reporting and analytics features to assess and optimize the recruitment process. These insights help organizations to make decisions, enhance their hiring strategies, and improve overall efficiency.
 

• Resume Reviews: Schedule an appointment with our team to ensure your resume is ATS-friendly.
• Big Resume will include ATS Score Guide
• Workshops: Attend our resume and job search strategies workshops for hands-on guidance.
• Resources: Explore tips, best practices, and resume examples available on the Career Services website.

Get Started Today!
Take advantage of the resources at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Career Services office to craft a resume that gets noticed.