optimize your resume (will county) for applicant tracking systems 2017

Optimize Your Resume For Applicant Tracking Systems

Denis Curtin

2017

© Copyright 2017 – Denis Curtin – www.JobSearchChicago.com – All Rights Reserved

2

Online Resume Submissions

When submitting your resume online

It will most likely be screened by an

APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM


3

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)The core component of a recruiting software suite

ATS simplifies the recruitment lifecycle by automating the hiring process

ATS includes receiving and reviewing resumes


http://www.softwareadvice.com/hr/recruiting-software-comparison/



http://www.jobsearchchicago.com/

4

Applicant Tracking Systems

5Source: ongig.com

TALEO

6

Some Taleo Customers

Courtesy of Oracle

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Why ATS Resume Optimization? Many qualified applicants are being rejected

by ATS, not because of a lack of qualifications but because of

unknowingly formatting their content

so the ATS cannot recognize it.

Source: Jobscan.co Blog


8

Why ATS Resume Optimization?Some sources quote that as many as 75%

of applicants are eliminated by the ATS,

as soon as they submit their resume,

Despite Being Qualified for the Job!

Source: Marc Miller, CareerPivot.com


9

Avoiding the Black Hole !

Source: commons.wikimedia.org


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BH_LMC.png


10

ATS Do’s and Don’ts

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PART 1Formatting Your Resume


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Resume HeadersATS Cannot Read Information in a Header

Don’t



13

Resume FootersATS Cannot Read Information in a Footer

Don’t



14

Resume Type Fonts

ATS Has Difficulty Reading Serif FontsTimes New Roman

Use Sans Serif FontsArial

Don’t

Do



15

Resume Font Size

ATS Has Difficulty Reading a Font Size That is Smaller Than 11 pt. Type

Do Not Use 10 pt. Type or Smaller

Best Choice: Arial 11 pt. or 12 pt. Type



16

Resume Margins

Use a one inch margin on the right and left sides of your resume

Use a one inch margin at the top and bottom of your resume


TOP

BOTTOM

17

Submitting PDF Resumes

Unless the Job Posting Specifically States: Submit a .pdf Resume – Don’t

Most ATS Cannot Read .pdf Resumes

Denis Curtin Resume.pdfDon’t



18

Preferred Resume FormatUse Microsoft Word .doc Format

Many ATS Cannot Read .docx Resumes

Denis Curtin Resume.doc

Denis Curtin Resume.docx

Do

Don’t



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Assist ATS ParsingDENIS J. CURTIN

Palatine, Illinois 60074 847.359.0435 [email protected] www.linkedin.com/in/deniscurtin

DENIS J. CURTIN Palatine, Illinois 60074

[email protected]

www.linkedin.com/in/deniscurtin/

Don’t

Do

• Use Single Column Format

• Do Not Label the Entries

Don’t Use Periods

Include Zip Code



20

Horizontal Rules (Lines)DENIS J. CURTIN

Palatine, Illinois 60074847-359-0435

[email protected]/in/deniscurtin

Don’t

Horizontal Rules Confuse the ATS

As Do BordersDon’t



21

Use Left JustificationWORK EXPERIENCE

LinkedIn® Trainer | LinkedIn® Coach | LinkedIn® Speaker 2011 – Present Training, coaching and speaking on how to effectively use your LinkedIn profile in your job search.

One-on-one advice for Executive Level candidates seeking LinkedIn profile optimization to enhance their job search. LinkedIn Presenter at numerous Job Support Groups and libraries in the Chicago Area. Webmaster for Chicago career transition website: www.JobSearchChicago.com.

LinkedIn® Trainer | LinkedIn® Coach | LinkedIn® Speaker 2011 – Present Training, coaching and speaking on how to effectively use your LinkedIn profile in your job

search. One-on-one advice for Executive Level candidates seeking LinkedIn profile optimization to enhance their job search. LinkedIn Presenter at numerous Job Support Groups and libraries in the Chicago Area. Webmaster for Chicago career transition website: www.JobSearchChicago.com.

Don’t

Do

Don’t Have an Even Right Margin



22

Use Black Ink on White Paper

Don’t

Do

23

Don’t UseGraphics, Logos, or Images

Don’t

Don’t

Don’t

24

ATS Cannot Read Tables Well

Don’t

Or Multiple Columns© Copyright 2017 – Denis Curtin – www.JobSearchChicago.com – All Rights Reserved


25

ATS Cannot Read Underlines

Don’t

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ATS Cannot Read Italics

Don’t

EDUCATION M.S. Organic Chemistry, Purdue University, W. Lafayette,

IndianaB.S. Chemistry, cum laude, Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa



27

ATS Ignores Skills Section

List Skills Within Each Job

Don’t

© Jobsearch.about.com



28

Work Experience

Call Your Work Experience Just That:

WORK EXPERIENCE

ATS May Not Recognize Phrases Like:

CAREER ACHIEVEMENTSSKILLS & EXPERTISE

Do

Don’t



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Education

Call Your Education Just That:

EDUCATION

ATS May Not Recognize Phrases Like:

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTSPROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Do

Don’t



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Never Start With Dates2000 – 2008 INSIGHT ENTERPRISES, INC., Hanover Park, IllinoisInsight is the Fortune 500 value-added global reseller of computer products

and services that purchased Comark. (2003 – 2008) Director – Integration Services

INSIGHT ENTERPRISES, INC., Hanover Park, Illinois 2000 – 2008 Insight is the Fortune 500 value-added global reseller of computer products

and services that purchased Comark. Director – Integration Services (2003 – 2008)

Don’t

Do



31

Your Resume in the ATS

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PART 2Choosing Keywords


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Choosing KeywordsUse the Information Found in the

JOB DESCRIPTION

Keywords

Required Skills

Key Phrases© Copyright 2017 – Denis Curtin – www.JobSearchChicago.com – All Rights Reserved

34© Copyright 2017 – Denis Curtin – www.JobSearchChicago.com – All Rights

Reserved

Word CloudsUse Word Clouds to Search for Keywords

www.Wordle.net

www.ToCloud.com

Others

Compare the Word Cloud of Your Resume with the Word Cloud of the Job Description

35

Word Cloud Example

www.Wordle.net

36

Word Cloud Example

www.ToCloud.com

37

Word Cloud Example

www.ToCloud.comSkills

38

Use Robots

to beat the

ATS Robot© Copyright 2017 – Denis Curtin – www.JobSearchChicago.com – All Rights Reserved

39

https://theprofessional.me/From MicroTrain Technologies

40https://theprofessional.me/

From MicroTrain Technologies

41

https://theprofessional.me/From MicroTrain Technologies

42https://theprofessional.me/

From MicroTrain Technologies

43

www.JobScan.coJames Hu

From www.JobScan.co

44

Jobscan.co Match Rate

From www.JobScan.co

45

Jobscan.co Skills Match

From www.JobScan.co

46


From www.JobScan.co

47


From www.JobScan.co

48


Blue Line - Resume Black Line - Job DescriptionFrom www.JobScan.co

49


Resume

Job Description

From www.JobScan.co

50



From www.JobScan.co

51



From www.JobScan.co

52



From www.JobScan.co

53

Jobscan.co Account


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Goals For Resume SubmissionFollow All The ATS Format Rules (Part 1)

Resume Should Match the Job Description: (Part 2)

SkillsKeywordsKey Phrases

Error-Free Resume© Copyright 2017 – Denis Curtin – www.JobSearchChicago.com – All Rights Reserved