People are taught to write resumes and cover letters with a hook — something that captures the attention of hiring managers. However, more companies are using software, not humans, to evaluate candidates.
If you want to apply for a job and successfully make it past the computer, follow the 10 tips below.
1. Know Your Opponent
To win the job, you need to know what you're up against. Most companies use ATS (applicant tracking system) software that automates the resume collection and ranking process.
ATS software eliminates the need for hiring managers to go through each application and weed out unqualified candidates. Large businesses that receive hundreds of resumes can dramatically shorten the recruitment and hiring process.
2. Write for Both Audiences
When writing your resume, you need to please two audiences — a computer and a human. It's vital to craft a resume that passes the automated computer system.
Once through, you still need an interesting resume that gets HR excited. Even though you need to follow a set of guidelines, don't forget to inject your personality as well.
3. Choose Your Keywords
If you want to stand out to a resume-scanning system, you need to optimize with keywords. These are words or phrases a computer zeroes in on to determine the relevancy of your resume.
The best way to find them is to read through the job description and company mission statement. On the flip side, don't overstuff your applications with keywords — this is a practice hiring managers look down on.
4. Keep Formatting Simple
You may be tempted to create a flashy resume designed to impress. However, if you want to surpass the computer, simplicity is best.
Choose a format that's easy to read and understand. Avoid borders, symbols, fancy fonts and colors. Bullet lists are OK, but you should avoid columns and lines. Don't try to stuff more keywords into your resume with invisible white text.
5. Be as Specific as Possible
A generic resume won't get you in the door. Instead, you need to customize it for each job you're applying to. Not only should you add keywords, but you also need to tailor your experience and qualifications to be as relevant as possible.
In the old days, a cookie-cutter resume might be enough for a callback. In today's world of cutthroat competition, specificity is best.
6. Don't Rely on the Header
Do you like to put important details— like your address, phone number, email address, etc. — in the header of your resume? If so, recruiters might not see it.
In one survey, 70% of employers said deal-breakers, like missing contact information, are enough to reject a candidate before they finish reading a resume. To avoid this common mishap, place essential details outside the header. Make the font size big and surround it with plenty of white space.
7. Avoid the Use of Graphics
Visuals like pictures, charts and graphs are appealing to the human eye — but not so much to the computer eye. To ATS, your pretty pictures look like a garbled mess of confusion.
If you want to show off a cool graphic you created or a chart that illustrates your skills, wait until you've passed through the applicant tracking system. When invited to interview or discuss the position, ask if you can email samples of your work.
8. Create a Clear Hierarchy
Your resume should follow a definite pattern or hierarchy that's easy for both computers and people to understand. Add standard headers like "Education," "Work Experience" and "Skills."
Use a chronological resume format that lists your most relevant experience first and works backward. Avoid the functional format, which focuses on highlighting your skills rather than your experience.
9. Choose Your File Type
You've likely heard the advice to submit your resume as a PDF. This format is great when you're sending a document to other humans and don't want the formatting to get messed up.
Until recently, however, ATS wasn't equipped to read PDF files. The ideal file type is a doc, which you can create in Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Avoid obscure formats like .txt and .docx.
10. Test Your Resume
You've crafted the perfect resume — now what? Before you hit the send button, ensure your document is in tip-top shape. Use a free online scanner that will analyze your resume and provide helpful feedback.
This tool will pinpoint which parts you should optimize. The more you practice, the better you'll become at writing resumes for a computer.
Do you want to land your dream job? Then you need to write a resume for both people and computers. Applicants swamp recruiters with their information.
Many companies use ATS to pare the selection down to the most qualified. Follow the tips above to pass the system and get your foot in the door.
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