ATS Formats
HUH? What is ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)?
Many job postings see hundreds (if not thousands) of applicants. Companies' hiring teams get overwhelmed - swamped may be a better term! Manually reviewing each and every application is nearly impossible. The solution? Companies use ATS or Applicant Tracking Systems, automated software that electronically process your resume, reducing the number hiring managers have to review. Knowing that companies use resume screening software, you need to ensure that your resume is properly screened by them. Some guidelines include:
- Label work experience and education sections correctly.
- Use consistent date formats throughout.
- NO tables - ATS cannot read them effectively.
- NO pictures, diagrams, or fancy artwork.
- NO scanned documents. All text needs to be copiable, highlightable and readable.
How do I ensure my resume passes them so I get through the initial computer screening so actual hiring managers can see it?
Your resume has to be "ATS compatible." Resume Ready Pros uses a state of the art resume review tool that properly scans your resume, so you can be confident it will make it through the "first cut" of ATS screening software that most companies use.
Will hiring managers think these ATS-approved templates look boring?
Our ATS-ready templates are approved by recruiters and hiring managers at top companies, and follow all the right resume standards/advice. This includes no objective sections, no images, no graphs, no fancy designs or colors, no tables, they meet whitespace requirements and use the right margins, fonts and sizes.
But I want a FANCY template!
We understand, fancy templates are just plain FUN! This is why Resume Ready Pros allows you to select your preferred artistic style, in addition to an ATS version! So you are essentially getting 2 for 1! The fancy resumes can be used if:
Hand-delivered to a company (and also apply with the ATS version on their website)
Emailed directly to a hiring manager or owner of a small business
Applying to a very specialized job that you are positive will receive very few applicants.
Applying for transitional or promotional roles within a company and you can give it directly to your boss or HR team.
We always recommend using your ATS version of your resume for any online electronic applications. Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), and multi-column fancy/colourful templates are not properly parsed by ATS systems, which negatively impacts your chances of getting an interview. This is why the templates we provide are all thoroughly tested through multiple ATS systems.
Below are a few examples of what ATS templates look like. Although simple and plain, we have a wide variety of ATS formats. The one we select for you will depend on your field of work, level of expertise, and whether or not you are pivoting to a new career, or continuing on the same career path.
