ATS-Compliant CV: 5 Strategies to Achieve It.

We’ve all been there: You find the perfect job opportunity, customise your CV and cover letter, submit your application to an online job listing, and then pray it will pass the infamous six-second resume review test.

Unfortunately, your job application is often lost in the ATS, and you’re left wondering why you did not get that job.

Most job applicants do not know that 75% of applications never reach the human eyes. Before your resume reaches the hands of a live person, it must often pass muster with an applicant tracking system (ATS).

So, how do you come up with an ATS-compliant CV? Here are five easy steps.

1. Conduct Keyword Research

The keywords you use can make or break your job search process. Keywords are the skills and qualifications in the job description that should be included in a CV. 

Recruiters use these words to identify candidates who match the desired skills and qualifications of the specific job. An ATS-compliant CV is rich with these exact keywords.

Go through the job description and note down the keywords used. Focus on the role you are applying for and the industry you want to work for.

2. Keep Titles Simple

Over-customising your CV titles makes it more difficult for Applicant Tracking Systems to analyse your resume. ATS is typically unable to recognise nonstandard headings, so they’re unable to sort the content appropriately in their databases.

Therefore, use standard and simple job titles in your keywords. This will ensure that you are capturing the most important keywords and align you with a human reader’s mind.

Focus on including the essential titles –Work Experience, Education, Qualifications, and Key Skills.

3. Include Relevant Skills and Experiences

In a competitive job market, you need a proven, measurable background of success to impress potential employers. Employers search for keywords, but they also look for concrete skills.

It is the specific and highly relevant achievements in which you have used your talents to give an employer measurable benefits that will get you noticed.

In noting down your achievements, customise them for the specific role you are applying for.

4. Tailor Your Qualifications

Tailor your qualifications so they apply to the qualifications stated in the position you are applying for.

As you write them down, ensure they are written in full-length and acronym format. For example, if it is the role of Personal Assistant, have ‘PA’ in brackets.

This will ensure that you come up with an ATS-Compliant CV.

5. Check Your CV Formatting

ATS has rejected CVs based on their format. There are three main resume formats: chronological, functional, and hybrid.

Ensure your CV format is the most acceptable, as this will increase your chances of getting through the system.

Also, some algorithms, such as photos, symbols, and tables, are not identified by ATS. So, get rid of them unless they are an application requirement.

Focus on facts, and keep your CV clear and concise.

In Conclusion,

Ensuring your CV goes through the ATS is the first step in finding a job. Even as you think of it, do not let your CV lose its value because, in the end, it will be read by someone.

Are you having trouble coming up with an ATS Compliant CV? Seek the help of professional CV writers to learn what keywords are needed and eventually boost your chances of getting a job.