Over 70% of companies use applicant tracking systems (ATSs) to manage their hiring processes.

An
ATS is a website where job seekers input their contact information, resumes, cover letters, and other
supplements. An ATS takes your application through four steps:

Most people don’t realize that there are differences between submitting a resume through an
email versus an ATS. Many include the same resume in a similar format and expect similar
responses. The reality is that the two channels have very different standards that can lead to
very different results; the same application that would land an interview if attached to an
email may not even be viewed by a person if submitted through an ATS.

To maximize the chance that a hiring manager reads and considers your
application when you submit it through an ATS, consider the following:

Use simple formatting. 

An ATS can’t read tables, graphics, or other formatting that you may use to make your
resume more visually appealing. Skip these altogether and opt for simple bullets where
necessary.

Repeat keywords and phrases from the job posting. 

Most ATSs use resume parsers, which strip your resume of formatting and scan it for
keywords and phrases. The more keywords and phrases it has, the more relevant the parser
will score you as a candidate. Keep in mind that context is key here; in addition to keywords,
include statements explaining how your skills match the job requirements.

Arrange experiences and keywords by priority and relevance to the position.

Organize content within your resume categories based on its relevance to the position.
Primary words include words in the job title or description or that the employer uses more
than twice (like “driven” or “organizational”). Secondary words include rival companies,
brand-name experience, notable qualifications, and keywords about primary words.

Write out each employer's name, then your title, and then the dates you held that title. 

ATSs look for information on your resume in a certain order. If you include the date first or
your title first, the ATS may not know how to contextualize the information. It’s okay to have
each of these pieces of information on separate lines as long as you maintain this order. ATSs
don’t scan your resume for length like hiring managers do; they scan for data.
Use full names of titles, companies, and educational institutions. 

ATSs often fail to recognize acronyms, so instead of NUS and CPA, write out “National
University of Singapore” and “Certified Public Accountant.”

Attach any documents as simple text files like .rtf or .doc. 

ATSs have trouble reading PDFs and fancy formatting, so it’s best to include all documents
in easy-to-read file types with minimal formatting.

Name each file with your name and its contents. 

Each file should be titled with your last name and its contents (e.g. [LastName]_Resume.rtf,
[LastName]_Portfolio.rtf, etc.). This makes it easier for employers to track each piece of your
submission.