The Evolving Job Market and Increased Use of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Software
Here at ERS we continue to write resumes that are rich in content, well-formatted, and visually distinctive, however we must now take into consideration the complexities of ATS. Job seekers worldwide must adopt a tactical approach during the resume writing process to maximize their chances of making the best qualified list.
THE LOW DOWN ON ATS
ATS is a software application that is increasingly used by employers to save time and money by automating recruiting needs. Companies are always looking to cut down on overhead while increasing overall operational efficiency, and ATS does just that. ATS allows employers to screen thousands of resumes for a requisition.
The first ATS vendors appeared in the late 1990s. The industry now includes 40+ vendors. Each vendor may utilize different algorithms, but all function with sophisticated data science. Originally created for Information Technology jobs, ATS installations now cover employment in almost every career field across all industries.
ATS Infographic
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE MODERN JOB SEEKER
Only a small number of resumes are getting through today’s ATS gatekeepers to be evaluated by human eyes. Many HR professional claim that more than 70 percent of today’s resumes are never viewed by the human eye, but it is hard to confirm such a statistic. It seems that almost everyone has a story about his/her resume, or a friend’s resume, disappearing into a resume black hole for one reason or another.
Applicant tracking system databases continue to thrive, ranking and sorting thousands of applicants. Applicants with the highest ATS scores rise to the top, making the best qualified list, while hundreds (or even thousands) of other applicants are left behind.
WHAT DOES THE MODERN JOB SEEKER NEED TO DO?
Applicant tracking systems that pre-filter resumes work by scanning them for contextual keywords and qualifications. This in turn saves HR managers valuable time of sorting through irrelevant, underprepared and weak resumes to find qualified candidates. This means qualified applicants slip through the cracks everyday because their resumes are not optimized for use with ATS software.
As automated systems flex their muscles, job seekers should learn to sweet-talk ATS technology by optimizing their career documents.
Long story short: Your resume will never be evaluated by the human eye unless you take the time to optimize your resumes content for use with ATS software. You must first beat the software to be considered for an interview. This is a tough pill to swallow.
EXPERT RESUME SOLUTIONS SPECIALIZES IN ATS OPTIMIZATION
Our Corporate and Federal Resume Development packages include agency and industry research so that we can optimize your documents for use with ATS software. 80-90% of employers use ATS software to rank and score their applicants, and only the applicants that rank and score the highest are interviewed. Let us help you take your career to the next level today!
