optimize your resume (career renewal) 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

Outline

INTRODUCTION

1. RESUME FORMATTING

2. HELPFUL ROBOTS


INTRODUCTIONApplicant Tracking Systems


4

Online Resume Submissions

When submitting your resume online

It will most likely be screened by an

APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM


5

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/

6

Applicant Tracking Systems

7 Source: ongig.com

TALEO

8

Some Taleo Customers

Courtesy of Oracle

9

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


10

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


11

Avoiding the Black Hole !

Source: commons.wikimedia.org


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


12

ATS Do’s and Don’ts


13

PART 1Formatting Your Resume


14

Resume HeadersATS Cannot Read Information in a Header

Don’t



15

Resume FootersATS Cannot Read Information in a Footer

Don’t



16

Resume Type Fonts

ATS Has Difficulty Reading Serif FontsTimes New Roman

Use Sans Serif FontsArial

Don’t

Do



17

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



18

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


19

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



20

Preferred Resume Format

Use Microsoft Word .doc Format

Many ATS Cannot Read .docx Resumes

Denis Curtin Resume.doc

Denis Curtin Resume.docx

Do

Don’t



21

Assist ATS Parsing

DENIS 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



22

Horizontal Rules (Lines)

DENIS J. CURTIN Palatine, Illinois 60074

[email protected]

www.linkedin.com/in/deniscurtin

Don’t

Horizontal Rules Confuse the ATS

As Do BordersDon’t



23

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



24

Use Black Ink on White Paper

Don’t

Do

25

Don’t UseGraphics, Logos, or Images

Don’t

Don’t

Don’t

26

ATS Cannot Read Tables Well

Don’t

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


27

ATS Cannot Read Underlines

Don’t

28

ATS Cannot Read Italics

Don’t

EDUCATION

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

Indiana

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



29

ATS Ignores Skills Section

List Skills Within Each Job

Don’t

© Jobsearch.about.com



30

Work Experience

Call Your Work Experience Just That:

WORK EXPERIENCE

ATS May Not Recognize Phrases Like:

CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS

SKILLS & EXPERTISE

Do

Don’t



31

Education

Call Your Education Just That:

EDUCATION

ATS May Not Recognize Phrases Like:

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Do

Don’t



32

Never Start With Dates

2000 – 2008 INSIGHT ENTERPRISES, INC., Hanover Park, Illinois

Insight 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



33

Your Resume in the ATS

34

PART 2Choosing Keywords


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Choosing Keywords

Use the Information Found in the

JOB DESCRIPTION

Keywords

Required Skills

Key Phrases


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

Word Clouds

Use 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


37

Word Cloud Example

www.Wordle.net

38

Word Cloud Example

www.ToCloud.com

39

Word Cloud Example

www.ToCloud.comSkills

40

Use Robots

to beat the

ATS Robot



41https://theprofessional.me/

From MicroTrain Technologies

42https://theprofessional.me/From MicroTrain Technologies

43https://theprofessional.me/

From MicroTrain Technologies

44https://theprofessional.me/From MicroTrain Technologies

45

www.JobScan.coJames Hu

From www.JobScan.co

46

Jobscan.co Match Rate

From www.JobScan.co

47

Jobscan.co Skills Match

From www.JobScan.co

48


From www.JobScan.co

49


From www.JobScan.co

50


Resume

Job Description

From www.JobScan.co

52



53



54

Jobscan.co


55

Jobscan.co Account


56

Jobscan.co


57

Jobscan.co Costs

Each Month


58

Goals For Resume Submission

Follow 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
