How Does an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) Work? Why should I care?

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are resume screening tools that simplify the recruiting process for recruiters, hiring managers, and HR teams by helping them organize, determine, and select the best, most qualified candidates in the most efficient manner. Many of these systems use artificial intelligence (AI) software to automate the process even more. With the AI-assisted systems, if the words (and keywords) on your résumé don't match up at the right keyword density to get past the hiring team using these systems, then your résumé won't even be truly considered or read in full by a human being. Since open positions can attract hundreds of candidates, this saves hiring managers time that would otherwise be spent manually weeding out stacks of candidates.

Did you know?

Recent studies show that ATS is used by 98% of Fortune 500 companies as well as an overwhelming 66% of large companies, 55% of hiring managers, and 35% of small to mid-size companies.

That's why, now, more than ever, professionals are seeking out résumé writing services and résumé writers like me, who specialize in creating high-impact designs that are expertly written and organized in a way that draws the attention of both human and AI eyes to the right places on the page in the first few seconds that matter the most.

In fact, these resume screening tools are the top reason I ask all of my clients to provide several links to job postings in my New Client Questionnaire. I use these to set a goal for their résumés. By doing so, I am able to study my clients' history, compare it against the job requirements and company overviews in these job links, identify relevant cross-over, and write a résumé that aligns perfectly and speaks directly to what hiring managers are seeking in their ideal candidate. The result? Within seconds of viewing your résumé, the right keywords jump off of the page so that they think, "Whoa, this candidate is perfect for this role!"

If you're ready to get started on an ATS-friendly résumé, check out my resume writing services here to get started. If you're a military veteran and looking to transition into a civilian role, you can check out my military resume writing service here for a military to civilian resume. If you would like to know more about how a resume writing service like mine might help you with resume screening tools like ATS and AI-assisted ATS, email me at info@resumegoat.com.