Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) software are now at the very core of resume writing and job search processes. The implementation of ATS software has changed everything about the job market you once knew.

At my company, we continue to write resumes that are rich in content, well-formatted, and visually distinctive. However now we must now take into consideration the complexities of ATS. Job seekers must take a tactical approach during the resume writing process to maximize their chances of making the best qualified list.

THE LOW DOWN ON ATS
ATS is a software application that is increasingly used by employers to save time and money by automating recruiting needs. Companies are always looking to cut down on overhead while increasing overall operational efficiency, and ATS does just that. ATS allows employers to screen thousands of resumes for a requisition.

The first ATS vendors appeared in the late 1990s. The industry now includes 40+ vendors. Each vendor may utilize different algorithms, but all function with sophisticated data science. Originally created for Information Technology jobs, ATS installations now cover employment in almost every career field across all industries.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE MODERN JOB SEEKER
Only a small number of resumes are getting through today’s machine gatekeepers to be evaluated by human eyes. While some job market watchers believe that more than 70 percent of today’s resumes are never viewed by the human eye, it is very hard to confirm such a statistic. But it does seem that almost everyone has a story about his or her resume, or a friend’s resume, disappearing into a “resume black hole.”

Applicant tracking system databases continue to thrive, ranking and sorting thousands of applicants. Applicants with the highest ATS scores rise to the top, making the best qualified list, while hundreds of other applicants are left behind.

Long story short, your resume will never be seen by the human eye unless you optimize your resumes content for use with ATS software. You must first beat the software to be considered for an interview.

CAN YOU AVOID ATS BY NETWORKING?
Even if you enter the company as a manager’s nephew, many employers require that all resumes, regardless how they are obtained, must be put into their ATS database for legal compliance and to prevent discrimination charges.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?
Applicant tracking systems that pre-filter resumes work by scanning them for contextual keywords and qualifications. This in turn saves HR managers valuable time of sorting through irrelevant, underprepared and weak resumes to find qualified candidates. This means qualified applicants slip through the cracks everyday because their resumes are not optimized for use with ATS software. As automated systems flex their muscles, job seekers should learn to sweet-talk ATS technology by optimizing their career documents.