How to Prep Your Resume for Automated Resume Scanners

How to Prep Your Resume for Automated Resume ScannersHow to Prep Your Resume for Automated Resume ScannersSure, the ultimate goal is to attract a hiring managers attention. But in many cases, your application wont even reach human eyes until it gets past an electronic gatekeeper. Resume scanners, often referred to as applicants tracking systems (ATS), help employers weed through the vast number of resumes they receive in buchung to highlight candidates who appear most promising. Learn to make friends with these resume robots by taking the following actions to prepare your resume for success.Heres how to prep your resume for automated resume scanners1. Keep the layout simple.Software cannot scan what it cannot read. Be sure your resume doesnt become a jumbled mess by sticking to a plain-text version for online applications. Considerations includeAvoiding formattingSelecting traditional section headers that can be understood by all systemsDeleting pretty, but potentially error-producin g, extras such as logos and picturesChoosing a normal font, such as Courier or Times New Roman, instead of a fancy oneSpelling everything correctly2. Be aware of keywords.Simply put, resume scanners know what theywant. Failure to include the magic words and phrases theyhave been programmed to favor puts an applicant on the fast track to rejection. Dont waste time submitting a generic resume you need specific matches.It is VITAL that you capitalize on the keywords and concepts mentioned in the job description, says career coach Jeff Adams of Charlotte Works. Software typically runs two algorithms in its search one is keywords the other is how often they show up in the text. As a job seeker, its most advantageous for you to not only mention or use keywords in your profile or summary, but incorporate them throughout your resume so that youll have a much stronger presence whether being read by a person or by software.3. Keep real people in mind, too.The tricky part, however, becomes cra fting the resume in such a way that it doesnt simply become a laundry list of keywords. What an automated resume scanner could potentially love, an actual person will quickly dismiss as being stacked just to get through.Job hunters need to be awareof important keywords for the industry they are in. However, these keywordsare not to just be thrown in and sprinkled everywhere on a resume andapplication. This could actually hurt their chances. The number of keywords and the distributionspolitikment need to be strategic in order to produce the most results, says Kelly Keating, co-owner of Red Letter Resumes LLC.To balance both the requirements of resume scanners and the interest of human readers, aim to place keywords where they naturally would fall. Varying a root sometimes works (such as blog being used as blogger or blogging). Intersperse appropriate synonyms to help flow and to let hiring managers know youve thought about your presentation beyond keywords. Provide stories, descripti ons, and solid evidence to give the resume substance. Remember, pleasing an automated scanner gets you a look, but pleasing an employer gets you a job.Looking for more ways to customize your resume? Check out our resume tipsReaders, do you prep your resume for resume scanners and applicant tracking systems? What processes have worked best for you? Share with us below