As I explained in the previous blog, an applicant tracking system (ATS) is a computer program that selects resumes based on how well they fit an open position. It’s important to note that your resume does not appear in the ATS the way you wrote it. The ATS pulls up only the information it considers to be relevant to the position.
Everyone knows that an ATS may miss those critical points that prove how right you are for a job. So why would a company use an ATS? A client of mine sought me out because he ran into exactly this problem. He had successfully handled a position as a temporary employee; yet, when the position became permanent and he re-applied, the ATS rejected his resume. When I rewrote his resume, he got the job because I made sure his resume was ATS compatible.
How did the Fortune 500 company explain this situation? They needed a hiring system that was Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) compliant. They decided to use the ATS system to be sure they selected candidates to interview fairly.
I believe we are reaching a time when applicants need two separate resumes (or more): one for networking and human eyes and one for ATS systems. Computers and people do not read or comprehend data in the same way.
Is you resume ATS-compatible? Ask Robin’s Resumes® and we’ll find out.