Everyone knows that having an impactful resume is essential as a first step in securing a job interview. Not everyone knows that what happens to a resume once it’s submitted to a potential employer is just as important. Having a clear understanding of this process is particularly relevant when applying to large companies, 90% of which use computerized Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs) to initially screen resumes and determine which applicants should be given serious consideration for that position.
These ATSs scan resumes for key words and phrases that are based on the job description. A common standard used is an 80% or higher match between key words in the resume and the job description. This means that you can have a beautifully crafted resume that will be rejected if the content doesn’t match 80% of the words and phrases in the job description. For testing purposes, Jobscan is a free ATS you can use to see how well your resume matches a job description.
In those instances where a resume is reviewed by a person instead of an ATS, the average time for the initial screening is only about 6.2 seconds to determine “fit” and “appeal”. Since you don’t know whether it will be an ATS or person initially reviewing your resume, you need to develop it in a way that it will be evaluated favorably by an ATS and also be appealing to a person.
Here are four pointers to keep in mind when creating your resume:
Be intriguing. Make the person reviewing your resume want to learn more about you. Don’t just play the ATS probabilities game by stuffing your resume with key words since this may undercut your ability to use your resume to tell your unique story.
Maximize the use of your 6.2 seconds. Every bullet point on your resume should clearly map over to the roles and responsibilities listed in the job description, making it easy for the person reviewing your resume to see that you have the specific experiences or transferable skills they’re looking for.
Show them the money. Write powerful bullet points that focus on accomplishments by including numbers, percentages, and the results associated with what you did.
Be error free. Errors in your resume indicate that you don’t have good attention to detail and can be the reason for rejection. Have a detail-oriented person proof your resume.
