Struggling to get an interview? The reason is… ATS is your enemy

You go through the effort to make an application to a job, upload your CV/resume, and then …. Silence, or at best an automated rejection.

Why? Three simple letters. A. T. S.

Not that these letters are missing from your CV, but the fact they stand for Applicant Tracking System (ATS) which are used by an increasing number of employers to shift through job applications.

In this article we explore the key reasons why so many people’s CVs never make the cut due to ATS, and whether applying via LinkedIn is the best route. And most importantly, we introduce you to an online tool that will help you land that next application!

• While a flashy CV might grab attention, it might not get past those initial robot screenings. So, keep your formatting simple.

• Keep your headers and titles basic, like Work Experience, Career History, Qualifications, and Education. ATS systems stick to what they know, so don't get too fancy.

• Watch out for infographic stuff like images or cool fonts – some ATS can't handle them. Consider having a plain text version of your CV/resume for online applications, and reserve the creative one for human eyes.

• Remember the file format! Most ATS prefer Word docs or plain text files – they're pretty easy-going with those. PDFs might make the cut. PowerPoint presentations certainly won’t!

• Before sending off your application, focus on Keywords in your CV/resume: Dive into the job ad and scope out the company website to understand what skills and experiences they are after. Then, tailor your CV/resume accordingly.

• Get specific with your qualifications, using the correct names and spellings. Incorporate phrases from the job advertisement to make your CV/resume stand out. Feel free to repeat key words a couple of times – those automated systems dig that. Just keep it sounding natural because a real person will eventually read it.

• To score points with the keywords, consider having a skills section or a brief summary of your qualifications.

Is LinkedIn the best route to apply for roles?

The answer is yes and no (in equal measures).

LinkedIn has over 300 million active users, with close to 950 million profiles which means there is a lot of competition for roles. LinkedIn introduced the EasyApply functionality on job postings to enable users to quickly apply with a LinkedIn profile generated CV/resume.

End result? 100s of applicants for roles that many shouldn’t even make the first cut. Hence the era of ATS has become even more important.

So how best to navigate the LinkedIn minefield of jobs?

• Any job with over 100 applicants… that ship has sailed and you are wasting your time.

• LinkedIn has a filter for jobs with under 10 applicants – use it on every job search.

• If a job has been live for more than a week or two, the recruitment process is probably well underway. Joining it now may mean you are on the substitutes bench at the game.

• Many recruiters will post roles on LinkedIn to meet internal metrics to show they have “gone to market”. Some recruiters will leave job postings open to generate leads on applicants for other future roles.

• Consider the personal approach, many roles posted on LinkedIn reference the recruiter – consider connecting in with them, engaging quickly and succinctly on the role and why you are the perfect fit as well as sending over your CV/resume.

So want to know how your CV/resume stacks up against an online ATS checker?

Let us introduce you to HireFlow.net which is an AI-powered platform designed to optimise your CV/resume and cover letter for success in the competitive job market. Note: HireFlow.net is experiencing high traffic (wonder why?) so you may get errors loading - be patient and check back later.

Here's what you need to know:

1. CV/Resume Checker:

• Use the free AI-powered resume checker to ensure your resume is in top shape. It analyses your CV/resume and provides feedback to help you perform well and increase your chances of getting interview invitations.

• Accepted formats: PDF and DOCX.

• The enhanced CV analysis offers personalised insights and expert suggestions to optimise your CV/resume, ensuring it stands out to potential employers and opens doors to new career opportunities.

2. ATS CV/Resume Checker:

• Explore HireFlow.net's ATS CV/Resume Checker which unlocks insights into your CV/resume's strengths and areas for improvement with AI analytics.

• Supercharge your job prospects without the need for login, ensuring your CV/resume catches the eye of potential employers.

• It will score your CV on how it would stack up against an ATS.

3. AI-Powered CV/resume Analysis:

• HireFlow.net's AI-powered CV/resume checker offers a comprehensive review.

• It instantly provides expert feedback tailored to the criteria recruiters and hiring managers prioritise.

• The checker evaluates your CV/resume on 20+ crucial checkpoints, analysing word choice impact, style, brevity, bullet points, and more.

If you are on your job search or thinking about commencing one, good luck and navigate ATS systems with ease!