How to Beat Applicant Tracking System

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Here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind:

DON’Ts

  • Don’t upload your resume in .PDF, .DOCX or any other fancy format. Instead, stick to the good old .RTF or .DOC. Better yet, try converting your resume to .TXT to understand what information will be picked up by the ATS and how it will be displayed, and make adjustments accordingly.
  • Don’t use tables, text boxes, or columns. Most ATS’s won’t recognize and read them correctly.
  • Don’t embellish your resume with images, graphs, clipart, and symbols. The system will overlook them.
  • Don’t use fancy bullets (Wingdings, Webdings, etc.) Standard options should be fine, while “+”, “-“ and “*” are your safest bet.
  • Don’t experiment with fonts. Since applicant tracking software relies on optical character recognition (OCR), go with Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or other standard fonts instead.
  • Don’t put important information, especially your contacts, in the header or the footer (except if it’s page 2+ of your resume). ATS usually skips headers and footers.
  • Don’t use abbreviations or acronyms. Spell everything out.
  • Don’t submit a functional resume. The system will not know how to interpret your document, so it’s unlikely that you’ll make the cut.

DO’s

  • Do use common section headings and capitalize them (i.e. “WORK EXPERIENCE”, “EDUCATION”, “AWARDS”, not “Value Added” or “Team Building Expertise”). That way you can ensure that the ATS picks up and organizes your information properly.
  • Do put each piece of information on a new line. For example,

Company
Dates of employment
Position

or

College degree
Year
School

  • Do repeat company name if you have held several positions within one organization.
  • Do fill your resume with appropriate buzzwords and key phrases, as it will be matched against a set of terms related to the vacant position and ranked accordingly. However, take care that you put the keywords in the context – sophisticated systems will know if you’re cheating.
  • Do take as many pages as you need to describe all the relevant work experiences, competencies and skills. With the ATS there’s no need to worry about the length.
  • Do have a “pretty”, i.e. visually attractive, version of your resume handy when you come in for an interview.

Is your resume optimized to be ATS-friendly? Do you have any tips on how to game the system? Share your experiences in our comment section!

Let us help you land your next position by crafting the best ATS optimized resume or by managing your entire job search. Here’s more information about our Resume Writing Services and Reverse Recruitment Service. Book a call today to speak directly with our CEO and Founder, Arno Markus!

About iCareerSolutions

iCareerSolutions, America’s #1 Executive and Professional Resume Writing Services, Reverse Recruitment, and LinkedIn Profile Development Company. 28X award-winning resume writers deliver professional resumes that get interviews. We have successfully landed our executive clients senior-level leadership positions at companies like Apple, Amazon, EA, Oracle, GM, Google, Facebook, DoJ, Gap, and 2U just to name a few. iCareerSolutions has 200+ 5-star reviews and offers a 60-day interview guarantee. Every resume template created is Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) compatible and highly customized to meet your unique needs.

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Paula Gurnett
Arno did an incredible job of updating and putting my resume together. He worked closely with me to gain an understanding of my previous experience as well as my current career goals. He is highly skilled at writing resumes in a very clear and professional manner and I have had interviewers comment on the quality of my resume, before offering me a position. I believe that Arno’s resume work has he…
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I have worked with Arno on two separate occasions. The first time was to create my resume and cover letter. He writes beautifully and taught me the importance of focusing on, not only what I want to be, but the best way to present it. His advice was invaluable and I landed a job quickly as a result. The second time was the creation of my LinkedIn profile, which I am delighted with. His input guide…
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Arno is a master of creating an achievement based resume that sets the candidate apart. He showcases one’s accomplishments in a professional, aesthetically pleasing presentation. His methodology for working with clients is logical and makes it easy for the client to focus on identifying their achievements. Arno is pleasure to work with in the process. I recommend him for any C-suite executive need…
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I worked with Arno and his company a few years ago and the results speak for themselves. The updated resume was very impressive and useful in landing a new gig.
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Excellent work! I really love what you did with the resume and cover letter. It is visually strong and the achievements really pop out nicely!!
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Arno and his team were thorough, hard-working and really helped distill and highlight my experience in a well-organized and clear way. His team are true professionals who know not just the resume-writing business but also how the process works on the recruiting side, so were able to advise on the right key words and formats to get the best results.
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I had the pleasure of working with Arno to solidify my LinkedIn profile so it appeared more professional. I found Arno’s tactics to be focused, candid, and extremely explanatory so that it was easily understood why he was suggesting the changes he was suggesting. I strongly recommend Arno.
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