With about 70 percent of large companies and 20 percent of small and medium-sized firms using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), it pays for job seekers to know how these AI-powered tools work.
An ATS is software than scans for specific words on job applicants’ résumés to weed out unqualified candidates. They filter applicants by scanning uploaded résumés and other materials for keywords much faster than a hiring manager could, which speeds up the hiring process. These systems can also keep candidates’ submissions for future openings and help companies compose job specs that can better attract job seekers who specifically fit the qualities a hiring manager seeks. Let’s look at how the specifics listed below would be beneficial during a job search from a company’s perspective. By scanning for some or all of these qualifications, filling a job becomes a more efficient proposition for companies.
- Business/Communication/English degree
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 0-2 years of work experience preferred
- 2-4 years of work experience preferred
- Strong interpersonal communication and/or public speaking experience
- Digital fluency with social media
- Ability to produce written online content
- Good time management
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
With artificial intelligence searching through hundreds or thousands of job applications, it is no mystery why companies prefer using AT systems. However, for job hunters, it’s a different story. The software may be too selective and pass over highly qualified individuals who may not have provided the specific wording the software looks for. In fact, a Harvard study found that 88 percent of recruiters believe that qualified candidates are indeed overlooked by ATS because their submitted materials did not exactly match the ATS job description.
This is why awareness as to how these tools work can help job candidates integrate the best strategies to “talk” back to these scanning systems. To optimize their applications, job seekers should follow this advice:
- Include specific wording and match keywords from the job description for every submission made.
- Understand going into the job search that each application will need to be tailored to maximize its suitability for every targeted job.
- Spell out and use acronyms (i.e. Bachelor of Arts in Business as well as BA in Business).
- Organize the résumé into the chronological rather than the functional résumé format.
- Use easily recognizable fonts like Helvetica, Garamond, or Georgia.
- Avoid using headers and footers since that information could confuse ATS.
- Opt for standard résumé headings instead of cutesy ones (i.e. Work Experience instead of Where I’ve Been.)
Many résumé scanner tools exist that offer templates and advice about ways to make an application ATS-friendly.
Discussion
- What are some ways to get noticed besides submitting application materials that will be scanned by ATS?
- Why do experts advise first-time applicants to join professional organizations?
- Although ATS are time savers for employers, what are some of the negatives about relying on these systems rather than on humans?
Sources:
Henderson, R. (2024, March 27). What is an ATS? 8 Things you need to know about applicant tracking systems. Jobscan. https://www.jobscan.co
Applicant tracking systems: Key features and when you need them. (n.d.). Indeed.com. https://www.indeed.com