The Big List of Ways to Optimize Your Resume

24 tips on what to do and what not to do to optimize your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems.

What are Applicant Tracking Systems?

Applicant tracking systems are computer systems used by organizations to manage applications. The ATS will read your resume, and then rank and score your qualifications vs. the job descriptions. Only those applicants who receive high scores will get a call for an interview. If you follow these formatting tips you will greatly increase the likelihood that your resume will rise to the top of the list. If you want a quicker solution check out the Rezi Optimized Resume Template

Top 5 Tips To Improve Your Resume:

1. Do not use graphical templates! Use a standard Word document, and save in .doc and .PDF format. Not all ATS systems can read .docx, RTF, and JPG formats.
2. Use simple formatting. Do not use images, footers, graphical templates, borders, symbols (bullet points are fine), shading or coloring.
3. Customize each resume for the specific position using language from the job description. “One-size-fits-all” does not work with applicant tracking systems. Incorporate relevant, targeted keywords and phrases for the position being sought. Be specific — i.e., “Adobe Photoshop” instead of “image-editing software”).
4. Use keywords and phrases in context. Incorporate them into descriptive achievement-oriented bullet points.
5. Use Jobscan: Jobscan is a brilliant software that ranks your resume based on the keywords found in it by comparing it to the job description you are applying for.

DO

1. Do remember that even if you have a personal connection through your network, your resume will typically need to be submitted to the company’s ATS.
2. When applying for a specific position, do use that exact job title on the resume.
3. When listing dates for employment or education, do list dates to the right of the information.
4. If you wish to include a context statement describing the organization you worked with, do include that statement after the organization name, your title, and employment dates.
5. Do consider including section headers in ALL CAPS to make it easy for the applicant tracking system to categorize the information.
6. If you are using a resume template, make sure that the template you use is ATS optimized. Rezi offers some great resume templates you can rely on to be optimized for hiring bots.
7. If you are working towards a certification that is a requirement for the position, do include it on the resume — but make sure you include a phrase such as “Pursuing (name of credential)”
8. Do check your email after applying for a position online. Some applicant tracking systems acknowledge submissions, but these automated responses may be diverted to your spam folder.
9. If given the choice, do upload your resume rather than cutting pasting sections into text boxes. When it is eventually forwarded to a human, it will look much more attractive.
10. Do be mindful of special characters and accents you use on your resume. Some words and phrases can be misinterpreted by an applicant tracking system — for example, accented words. The word “résumé” itself is not ATS-friendly. The ATS does not recognize the accented letters. Instead, it reads it as “r?sum?.”
11. Do try to keep it to one pages. However, if you have a 2-page resume, put your name and Page 2 in a header so the ATS can “see” it.
12. Use Sans Serif fonts if possible. Some of the more rudimentary ATS software have a tough time reading the extra ticks in Serif fonts. To see the difference between Serif fonts and Sans Serif, take a look at the picture below.

DON’T

1. Don’t list your credentials (MBA, CPA, etc.) next to your name. Include that information on a separate line.
2. Don’t include skills you don’t possess on the resume as an attempt to “trick” the applicant tracking system into selecting you. Anything on your resume needs to be substantiated in an interview, or increasingly in a skills-based test before you interview.
3. Don’t mix different fonts in your resume.
4. Don’t feel the need to create a completely stripped down document. In the old days we would save documents in .txt format with absolutely no formatting before submitting online. Because your resume will eventually be seen by a human being, keeping some simple formatting such as bold, caps and bullet points will help to keep your resume attractive.
5. Resume writing can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Check out the Rezi App for an easier way to write your resume.
6. Don’t center your text. Make sure your experience section is left aligned — otherwise, the ATS may have trouble “parsing” your resume.
7. Don’t abbreviate your credentials — since the ATS is all about keyword matching the job description to your resume, it’s best to write out any keywords that will help you land the job.

Closing Statements

And there you have it — the big list of do’s and don’ts. Follow these rules and ATS will be your best friend.

Here at Rezi, we understand that writing a resume is challenging enough. This is why we’ve created an app that formats and optimizes your resume — automatically so you can focus on the things that matter — like writing your resume! If you’d like to learn more, visit Rezi today. Accounts are free forever as is downloading your resume!