Monday, August 21, 2017

Making Sure You Get Past the ATS


Have you applied for dozens of jobs, but not received any calls for an interview?  You may have thought that you simply did not have the necessary skills for the position, however, it may be something completely different causing you not to be chosen and not get past the ATS.

An ATS is an applicant tracking system, which many hiring managers use today to help “weed” out candidates that do not fit.  You may not be getting called for that interview, because you are not making it past the ATS – here are a few things you can do to make sure you make it through:
  • As you guessed, an ATS is an electronic program that is programmed on what to accept and what not to accept.  So, it stands to reason that your resume must include the right keywords and information to be allowed through.  It is best that you create your resume based on the job ad itself.  Take key phrases and key words directly from the ad and make sure they are placed throughout your resume.
  • When completing online applications, many of these are tied to an ATS.  While the technology has gotten better, many still cause issues for candidates who are not organized and prepared.  Since many of these programs have time limits and do not allow you to go back and fix any mistakes or add anything missing, it is imperative that you have everything together before you begin.  Make sure you are thorough and review everything before you move on to the next step.
  • Do your research.  This may seem like a broken record to you – you know you need to do research, but having the research done on the company before you apply is a great idea.  Many hiring managers have added questions to their ATS regarding their company culture, the job ad itself, and even their hiring process.  If you do not know and understand these questions, you will be rejected by the ATS.
Even with following all of these tips on getting past the ATS, it is still a good idea to call the company within a day or two of submitting your resume to make sure they received it and it was not rejected by the ATS.


Copyright: fuzzbones / 123RF Stock Photo

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