ATS – Explained and How to Beat It.

In this article we explore the popular topic about applicant tracking systems (ATS). If you are applying for a position online, most likely you have experienced adding in your resume in one of these systems. As a job seeker, it’s important not only to understand how an ATS works but also how you can beat it in order to get your application noticed among all other applicants.

What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a software used by companies to process job applications. It’s a tool that helps recruiters find, sort and rank candidates for jobs. ATS can filter out unqualified candidates and help recruiters find the best candidate for the job.

A good ATS saves you time when it comes to hiring because it does all the work for you. You simply post your job listing on an online platform, like Indeed or LinkedIn Jobs, wait for resumes from interested candidates to come in via email or through an online portal – then let ATS do its magic!

Why do companies use this?

Most companies use this because it saves them time and money, as well as reduces the chance of human error. It also helps improve the quality of candidates by ensuring that the right candidate is chosen for the job.

How does it work?

When an ATS starts scanning your resume, it begins with the keywords that you have included in the document. If you don’t have any of the keywords on the list, then your chance of getting past that first round is slim to none.

Your resume will be compared to other applicants’ resumes as well as an existing database of applicants who have applied for similar jobs before. Your ranking in this system will be always changing based on how popular the open position is and how many qualified candidates there are for a particular job opening (and this could change daily).

Online Websites that Show ATS Resume Ratings

One of the most important things to know when applying for jobs is that your resume can be analyzed by an automated system that looks at all of your information, including:

• Your name, address and contact information
• Your education background (and grades)
• Previous employment history

Companies use this information to create an algorithm that determines if you are a good fit for their company. The problem with this approach is that each company has its own system, meaning it is impossible for one company’s rating to be relevant for another. This means ATS scores can’t be compared across different companies or industries—meaning there’s no true way to gauge how well you did in comparison with other applicants who applied from the same position at another company. Also, online websites that show an ATS score would not be accurate either since it doesn’t have an actual database with live open positions that would be the different per company. 

How can you beat the ATS?

• Do not use fancy fonts, headers, graphics on the resume.
• Use keywords for the open position on the resume.
• Do not use images on the resume.
• Review the file that you are submitting. Such as PDF files, in most systems will be too large to accept. We recommend a Word or Text file. 
• Be selective about the number of positions that you apply at the company. The company can see what you applied to. Applying to all positions will make it look like you are desperate and this is not a good impression that an employer wants to see in their candidates’ applications or resumes! Apply only when you qualify for a specific position or job description!
• Modify your resume for each position that you apply to by adding new information about yourself as it pertains specifically to this job opportunity and/or role at hand (e.g., if applying for a marketing copywriter role then add in your previous experience working as a marketing copywriter). This helps employers see how much effort has been put into tailoring them specifically towards what we’re looking for here today—someone who’s willing follow instructions carefully without second guessing anything

So, in conclusion, ATS is an important tool for companies to use when they are hiring. It helps them identify candidates that are a good fit for their programs and makes the whole process much easier. However, there are some things you can do to make sure your resume gets past this system so that you don’t miss out on jobs because of it!