BRIAN GOLOD

ATS Resume Secrets

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 ATS Resume Secrets

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 ATS Resume Secrets

Table Of Contents
Introduction 5
Foundations 7
Secret 1: Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae (CV) 7
Secret 2: What Is An Applicant Tracking System (ATS)? 8
Secret 3: What Is ATS Match Rate? 8
The Perfect Resume 10
Secret 4: The Two Most Common Resume Mistakes 10
The Presentation 11
Secret 5: An Image Is Not Worth A Thousand Words 12
Secret 6: Less Is More 13
Secret 7: File Format Is Important 13
Secret 8: The Header and Footer Are Black Holes 13
Secret 9: A Bullet Point Is A Bullet Point 13
The Write-up 14
Secret 10: Don’t Listen To Your Ego 15
Secret 11: Avoid Keyword(s) Soup 15
The Sections and Content 16
Secret 12: Your Name Can Be A Problem 17
Secret 13: Your Home Address Is For Your Guests 17
Secret 14: Keep Contact Information Dry 18
Secret 15: The First Line Should Knock It Out Of The Park 18
Secret 16: Employment History Is About Achievements 18
Secret 17: Relevant Skills Help With Visibility 19
Secret 18: Other Interests Create Connections 19
Secret 19: Languages Spark A Conversation 19
Secret 20: You Must Have Education Or Experience 19
ATS Optimization 20
Secret 21: Test The Water Before Jump 21
ATS Resume Template 22
 ATS Resume Secrets

Introduction
Many of us have career goals that we aspire to achieve. Whether you're a seasoned
professional looking to transition into a new position, a recent college graduate
seeking to launch your career, or an immigrant searching for employment
opportunities, finding the ideal job is a top priority. However, in today's fiercely
competitive job market, job seekers face numerous obstacles, with one of the most
common challenges being crafting a proper ATS-compliant resume.
It's crucial to submit a well-crafted resume that meets the requirements of
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Recruiters commonly use these systems to
manage large volumes of resumes and identify the most qualified candidates based
on specific keywords and qualifications. Therefore, a poorly formatted or incomplete
resume could hinder your chances of getting past the initial screening process. An
ATS-compliant resume provides the first and only chance to get noticed by a
potential employer.
Get ready to transform your job search with the ATS Resume Secrets guide!
This comprehensive resource is designed to help you create a powerful and
effective resume that is ATS-compliant, ensuring that it stands out to potential
employers and gets you noticed.
Our proven approach has already helped job seekers just like you land
coveted positions at top-tier organizations such as The United Nations, The World
Bank, Save The Children, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Amazon, Google, KPMG, Princeton
University, Harvard University, and many others.
The ATS Resume Secrets guide is the result of over 18 years of experience in
the industry, during which we have learned from reputable experts, tested various
resume formats and ideas, and refined them into one simple and effective version.
This finely tuned resume has been successfully leveraged by thousands of

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 ATS Resume Secrets

professionals worldwide, including the guide's creator, who has personally found
success using this approach.
In 2019, Brian Golod discovered his purpose in helping mentor professionals
to achieve their career goals, leading to the creation of Next Badge, an online
education company dedicated to career development. As a result, this guide is
packed with knowledge and tips that can help you land interviews, whether you're
just starting your career or looking to take the next step.
We believe in the power of helping others achieve their full potential, and
that's why we're excited to share these ATS Resume Secrets with you. With our
guidance, you'll be able to create a resume that truly showcases your skills and
experience, helping you stand out in a crowded job market. So let's get started!

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 ATS Resume Secrets

Foundations
Before we get started, let me explain three key concepts (or, as we like to call
them, secrets) that will make preparing an ATS-compliant resume a breeze.

Secret 1: Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

While the terms “resume” and “CV” are often used interchangeably, it is important to
understand that they are not the same document (unless you live in the UK). A
resume briefly summarizes an individual's skills, education, and work experience. At
the same time, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a more detailed document typically used
when applying for academic or research positions.
Regardless of your geographic location or industry, it is generally
recommended that you use a resume format when applying for jobs. However, there
may be some exceptions to this rule. For instance, if you are applying for a teaching
or academic role, a CV may be required.
It is important to note that some CVs may contain sensitive information such
as photo, date of birth, gender, marital status, family status, religious affiliation, and
nationality. Including this information is unnecessary and can expose applicants to
potential bias during the selection process. In order to ensure fairness and prioritize
candidates' competencies, it is best to avoid including these unnecessary details.
To maximize your chances of landing interviews, we recommend using our
resume format exclusively and following our guidelines. By doing so, you can
present your qualifications in a clear and concise manner that is tailored to the
needs of potential employers.

Secret 2: What Is An Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

An Applicant Tracking System, commonly known as ATS, is software designed to
help recruiters and hiring managers to streamline their recruitment process. It is a

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 ATS Resume Secrets

powerful tool that helps manage job postings, resumes, and applicant information.
The primary purpose of an ATS is to organize and sort through large volumes
of job applications efficiently. This software typically includes features such as
resume parsing, candidate search functionality, and automated candidate
communication.
One of the most critical features of an ATS is its ability to rank applicants
based on how closely their resumes match the job description or posting. This
feature helps recruiters and hiring managers prioritize the most qualified candidates
and save time by eliminating candidates who are not a good fit. Overall, an ATS can
be a game-changer for companies that receive a high volume of applications and
need to manage their hiring process effectively.
The use of an ATS has become increasingly common in recent years, as it
helps to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the recruitment process,
ultimately leading to better hiring outcomes.

Secret 3: What Is ATS Match Rate?

ATS Match Rate is a percentage that indicates whether or not you, the applicant, are
using the correct terms on your resume, in comparison to the role and job
description. Typically, resumes over 80% ATS Match Rate are selected for review.

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 ATS Resume Secrets

The Perfect Resume

It is not what you think is perfect. It’s what

the ATS and the person behind your hiring
process consider perfect.
 ATS Resume Secrets

The Perfect Resume

The perfect resume must "impress" twice; first, it must pass through the ATS
software and then the human behind it. Refrain from trying to trick the system by
adding keywords to your resume that do not match your skill set. The truth will
eventually be discovered, creating distrust in the hiring manager; therefore, stick
with the best practice as explained in this document. Read on.

Secret 4: The Two Most Common Resume Mistakes

The two most common mistakes professionals make when preparing their resumes
include:
1. Writing their resumes based on what they are proud of, and
2. Arranging the resume format in a unique way, including using fancy graphics,
charts, tables, or other designed layouts.
To avoid these mistakes, you must do two things: first, focus on include what
hiring managers and recruiters want to read, and second, ensure your format allows
every ATS software to read your resume content efficiently.
Now we will share what you must know to create an ATS-compliant resume
and land more interviews. We have divided this section of our guide into four main
mini-chapters. Each addresses a specific area and is designed to help you better
understand what you must be aware of to prepare your perfect resume:
1. The Presentation
2. The Write-up
3. The Sections and Content
4. ATS Match Rate

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 ATS Resume Secrets

The Presentation

Don't blame the ATS; your resume

presentation is making you invisible.
 ATS Resume Secrets

The Presentation
Before it reaches a recruiter or hiring manager, your resume often passes through an
ATS (Applicant Tracking System). Let's talk about the infamous ATS software that
corporations and recruitment agencies use to sort, organize, and filter applicants.
When you apply for a job, your resume goes into an ATS, which "tries" its best
to read it. We say "tries" because we are talking about software that has only been
programmed to know how to handle specific scenarios or data inputs within your
resume. Therefore, you must understand how the software works to be as effective
as possible with the same effort.
Professionals and job seekers in general need to realize that ATS software
products (yes, there are many) are far from perfect. Their purpose is to read your
resume but they can only do so as long as you write your content following specific
and predictable rules.
Read on as we continue to share some of the possible rules that help you
understand what the ATS software expects.

Secret 5: An Image Is Not Worth A Thousand Words

Images like charts can "break" the ATS software if it is not prepared to handle them
correctly. Some or all of the contents can become unreadable, causing your resume
to get rejected. How do I know which ATS software the company uses and whether
it handles the use of images or not?
You will never know exactly which ATS they use, if any, so this is what we
must do: there is a famous movie phrase from Forrest Gump that I would like you to
remember...
My momma always said, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what
you're gonna get." Let's write a resume that every ATS software can read, so it doesn’t
matter which one you get!

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 ATS Resume Secrets

Secret 6: Less Is More

Humans appreciate a fancy resume layout, but it is not valuable for an ATS.
Remember, the first one to read your resume is not a human; frequently, these
layouts generate scrambled content, making the reading difficult for the ATS.
A simple resume layout is critical for any ATS software to read the content
correctly. The key is to remove all "fancy" formatting and keep only plain text.
A fancy layout is one of the reasons why you may have been overlooked in
the past, even when you were perfectly qualified for the role.
Note: If you are a graphic designer, please understand that your resume is not
the place to showcase your skills. Keeping it simple will yield the best results.

Secret 7: File Format Is Important

If you're asked to upload your resume to an ATS and "PDF" is listed among the file
formats, send a PDF version of your resume; otherwise, submit your resume in "DOC"
or "DOCX" formats.

Secret 8: The Header and Footer Are Black Holes

Headers and footers are places where many ATS can't get in; please don't use these
areas of the document when building a resume. You are not writing a book.

Secret 9: A Bullet Point Is A Bullet Point

Bullet points are great for highlighting accomplishments and qualifications on your
resume. However, if you choose one of those fancy symbols for your bullets, the
contents could get scrambled when the ATS tries to read them. We recommend you
stick with the default style of bullet points (i.e., typically a small black dot).

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 ATS Resume Secrets

The Write-up

You should put your ego aside, write what

employers want to read, and frame your
sentences using their language.
 ATS Resume Secrets

The Write-up
Although having an ATS-compliant resume with a high match rate is important,
ultimately, a human will be reviewing your resume. If the content of your resume is
lacking, it's game over. The main reason for receiving an interview invitation is the
strength of your resume's content and how well it aligns with the employers’ needs.
It is not necessary to tailor your resume for each job description, as it can be
an inefficient process that results in multiple versions of your resume. This can
potentially raise red flags when employers compare your resume to your LinkedIn
profile. Instead, it is advisable to have one version of your resume that covers a
range of similar positions and write its content based on the market needs for the
role. By doing so, you can ensure that your resume is consistently strong and aligned
with the needs of employers across a variety of similar job postings.

Secret 10: Don’t Listen To Your Ego

We can't emphasize this enough; your resume is not for you. It is not meant to satisfy
your ego. You will only be able to achieve that by writing what employers want to
read. When you want to know what your potential employers are looking for in a
candidate, scout the job postings to find the basic and preferred qualifications and
use the same language.

Secret 11: Avoid Keyword(s) Soup

Optimizing an ATS is not only about using the right keywords randomly; it is about
finding the places where those keywords perfectly fit to describe your real
qualifications, power skills, experience, and expertise you've acquired over the years.
Don't try to force keywords into areas where they don't belong; the writing has to be
fluid and concise.

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 ATS Resume Secrets

The Sections and Content

Learn how to write each part of your

resume, so it becomes an attention
grabber from the start.
 ATS Resume Secrets

The Sections and Content

Many applicants list their education and relevant skills at the top, but that's different
from what recruiters, HR professionals, and hiring managers are interested in reading
first; they skip over and go straight to your work experience.
Begin with your contact information, a strong and brief summary followed by
your employment history, relevant skills, other interests, languages, and education.
Remember, on average you only have six seconds to capture the reader's attention.
Make sure your resume is not packed with unnecessary information and so
crowded it looks like a sea of characters; the denser it seems, the harder it is to read.
Give each section breathing room, and don't feel it needs to be just one page long. It
doesn't matter whether it is two pages long; what matters is whether the content is
relevant.

Secret 12: Your Name Can Be A Problem

A full-form name is common, but if it is too long, difficult to pronounce, or from a
foreign country, it could prevent you from being selected. If that is your case, we
encourage you to use a simplified version you want to be called.
Shorter names are easier to remember. We have learned from experience that
changing the resume name is often enough to make a difference between night and
day.

Secret 13: Your Home Address Is For Your Guests

There is no need to put your full address; city, state/province, and country will
be enough as it is the only information an employer needs when the position
requires you to be present in an office.

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 ATS Resume Secrets

Secret 14: Keep Contact Information Dry

Your contact information is the channel through which you communicate with your
employer; your email address and phone number are essential. Avoid numbers, rare
characters, and nicknames in your email address. Choose a professionally curated
email, possibly from a combination of your names.
If you have a professional LinkedIn™ profile, make sure to write the URL, it is a
good way for recruiters to send direct messages.

Secret 15: The First Line Should Knock It Out Of The Park
Provide a summary of your experience. It should read like a paragraph and be easy
to follow. Your last sentence should state what you are looking for in terms of career
opportunity. Don’t go beyond four lines and don’t use bullet points for this. Make sure
the last sentence uses up as much space horizontally so that you have the greatest
opportunity to make an impact.

Secret 16: Employment History Is About Achievements

Your job duties are less crucial than your achievements; instead of listing what you
used to do daily, list your accomplishments and mention how you did them.
Consistency matters: ensure each job has the same number of bullet points
throughout your resume and the sentence length is similar, so the contents flow
more easily for the reader.
● Use bullet points, ideally with sentences not longer than one line.
● Quantify your achievements whenever possible.
● Use terms and numbers everyone can understand, like time and money.
● Powerful verbs at the beginning of each sentence will increase the reading.

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 ATS Resume Secrets

Secret 17: Relevant Skills Help With Visibility

List every relevant skill for the job you are applying for, delimited by a comma.
Recruiter or hiring managers do not typically read this section; however, it enables
you to list keywords candidates are searched for to help you maximize visibility and
rank higher in the search results.

Secret 18: Other Interests Create Connections

Most candidates don't include other interests (i.e., hobbies), which gives you an
advantage. People choose those with similar interests; leverage the Other Interests
section to make yourself more likable beyond a professional setting, trying to find
something in common with the interviewer.

Secret 19: Languages Spark A Conversation

List the languages you speak, delimited by a comma; there's no need to specify your
fluency. Even if you are not proficient in that language, you can still leverage it to
spark a conversation. Just make sure you have some connection to and
understanding of the languages you list.

Secret 20: You Must Have Education Or Experience

Education is one of the most important sections to focus on when you don’t have
enough experience for the position you are applying for. In contrast, if you have
enough experience in the field or industry, you can get a job even if you don’t have
related education.
List your educational credentials in chronological order, beginning with the
most recent one at the top. Ensure your education is stated in the same terms as the
job postings.

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 ATS Resume Secrets

ATS Optimization

A high ATS Match Rate is paramount for

your resume to be selected by the person
behind your hiring process.
 ATS Resume Secrets

ATS Optimization
Once your resume is complete, the next step to ensure success is to test your
resume against multiple job postings for the same role you are applying for.
Fortunately, there are now free online software products that can help you do
this. These tools allow you to upload and compare your resume to every job
description, giving you a matching percentage. This exercise can be a useful way to
identify any gaps or areas where your resume could be improved to better align with
the market needs.

Secret 21: Test The Water Before Jump

Skyllsyncer or Jobscan points out which keywords are missing on your resume and
provides you with a matching percentage and the missing keywords and other
valuable insights on the job.
You are responsible for including those final missing keywords on your
resume; the more times a particular keyword is repeated, the higher your chances of
being found with that said keyword.
Don't copy and paste missing keywords blindly into relevant skills. Instead,
whenever possible, try to incorporate them into your employment history.

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 ATS Resume Secrets

ATS Resume Template

This ATS Resume Template has been created and shared by Brian Golod, who
strives to empower everyone to advance in their careers. This template has been
picked up by organizations such as The United Nations, The World Bank, Save The
Children, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Amazon, Google, KPMG, Princeton University, and
many others.
Brian has reviewed and worked on thousands of resumes. If you decide to use
this template and continue to struggle to land interviews, please feel free to reach
out to Brian. If you are blessed to get interviews but are hesitant about your
interviewing skills, you can reach out to Brian as well.
Here is the link to the ATS Resume Template. This is a Google Doc, so you can
make a personal copy to your Google Drive if you have a Gmail account; if you don’t
have Gmail, just copy and paste the content into a new document, make sure to
follow the layout.
If you want to learn more about how to get the job you want, Brian hosts live
web classes very often. You can register for his next live event at nextbadge.com

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