Getting Your CV Into The Right Hands: How To Beat the Robots

1. What is Applicant Tracking System?

Did you know that 75% of CVs submitted by qualified applicants don’t even make it into the hands of a real person?

So, what is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)? And how can you be confident it works to put your CV into the right hands? ATS software scans CVs and cover letters as they arrive and selects the resume formats and content that closely matches the recruiter’s requirements.

Although this may seem daunting, anyone can beat the robots; read on for some tips to help you prepare.

2. Make Your CV Keyword Friendly

When you identify a job advertisement that looks like a good fit for your skillset, sit down and pull some keywords out of the ad – this is how to write a CV that slants towards a particular job.

If you can make your CV Keyword friendly, you will be more likely to advance toward a callback and figuring out what your prospective employer is looking for is relatively simple.

In an ATS friendly resume (or any resume), you would include the job title, the critical skills listed in the ad, academic achievements that match their stated criteria, and any computer programmes or adjacent tech they mention as essential to the work.

There is a place for precision here, for example, where you may typically list yourself as a “Bookkeeper”, but the employer refers to an “Accounts Person”’, you can pivot your work experience to accommodate the language they use.

3. Get Your CV Checked

If you have spent a lot of time perfecting your CV, you may feel like you don’t need a third party to look it over. Unfortunately, it may be the case that there are spelling mistakes that your spell check has glossed over.

Even if you feel like what you are about to submit is perfectly poised to catch the eye of a discerning hiring manager, it pays to have your CV checked before you hit send. This applies regardless of whether or not you are opting to use an ATS friendly resume template.

When it comes to ATS, a spelling mistake will see you dropped instantly, as ATS tech won’t read misspelled words.

4. How to Make Your CV Better & More Robot-Proof

Many people still believe a PDF is best for uploading your resume. However, ATS software will generally read this format as an image. This could see you hit the bottom of the pile immediately.

The correct format to use for a CV is .doc or .txt. – use an 11 or 12pt typeface for best results, and don’t mess around with fancy fonts – stick with classics like Courier, Sans Serif, or Arial. It’s also important not to include images or too many columns.

You can also help your CV through the ATS process by using typical headings generally present on a resume; titles like ‘education’, ‘experience’ and ‘qualifications’ are good. You should also spell out acronyms, as ATS programming will likely utilise full job titles as a search mechanism.