Buzz
As you fine-tune your résumé and cover letter with the hiring manager of your dream company in mind, keep in mind that your application might never reach them. It could be filtered out by a robot before it ever gets to human eyes.
Most Fortune 500 companies and major job platforms rely on software known as applicant tracking systems (ATS) to handle the influx of applications. These systems, according to John Sullivan, a management professor at San Francisco State University, help filter out applications that either can’t be processed or don’t meet certain criteria to be seen by a person, as he told Money.
So, how do you outsmart the robotic systems scanning your job application? It’s simpler than you think: Use keywords from the job listing, along with relevant synonyms. For instance, if you’re applying for a role as a computer programmer, include terms like computer programmer as well as related words like coder and developer. Also, make sure to use both acronyms and their full terms for important concepts, such as CSS and Cascading Style Sheets, or CPA and Certified Public Accountant, since you can’t predict what the software will pick up.
Simplicity is essential. Avoid over-decorating your résumé with fancy fonts, colors, headers, images, and so on—ATS systems can’t process them. Stick to conventional résumé formatting and use standard fonts like Arial, Courier, or Times New Roman, as the ATS might reject your résumé if it gets confused by more elaborate designs,” suggests the Muse. You may also want to submit your résumé in rich text format rather than as a PDF, since the software may struggle to read PDFs properly.
That said, don’t overload your résumé with keywords and skills you don’t actually have; remember, a real person will make the final call. Your résumé should remain clear and readable, without being overwhelmed by jargon and buzzwords.
However, including elements from the job listing is always wise, both in your résumé and cover letter. It demonstrates that you’ve researched the position and are genuinely interested in it, plus it increases your chances of passing through the robot’s filters.
