This is Why Your Resume Gets Rejected ➤ ATS Resume Format & Tips 2024

Shweta Arora
7 May 202406:22

TLDRThis video sheds light on the importance of making resumes ATS-Friendly in an increasingly automated recruitment landscape. It explains what ATS is, its significance, and provides actionable tips for creating a resume that can be read by Applicant Tracking Systems. Key points include using standard fonts, chronological order, clear headings, bullet points, action verbs, tailored keywords, quantifiable achievements, correct formatting, concise length, and impeccable grammar. The video also suggests online tools like Jobscan and Skill Syncer to optimize resumes for ATS, ensuring they don't get rejected in the screening process.

Takeaways

  • 😀 ATS stands for 'Applicant Tracking System', a software that screens resumes before they reach HR for manual review.
  • 🔍 If your resume isn't ATS-friendly, it may not be read by the software and could be automatically excluded from the hiring process.
  • 🤖 The importance of ATS is growing due to the increasing automation in recruitment processes, including AI-based interviews.
  • 🛠️ To make your resume ATS-friendly, use online tools like Jobscan, Resume.com, Resume Worded, or Indeed Resume Builder to get a score and suggestions for improvement.
  • 📝 Use simple and standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, and avoid italics, diagrams, or graphs to ensure readability by ATS software.
  • ⏳ List your work experience and education in reverse chronological order to align with how ATS software reads information.
  • 🔑 Use clear headings for sections like 'Education' and 'Work Experience' to make them easily distinguishable to ATS software.
  • • Use bullet points to improve readability and make your resume easier for ATS software to parse.
  • 🏋️‍♂️ Incorporate powerful action verbs in your sentences to make them more impactful and noticeable to ATS.
  • 🔑 Tailor your resume with keywords from the job description to match the opportunity you're applying for.
  • 📊 Quantify your achievements with numbers, percentages, or metrics to signal significant accomplishments to ATS software.
  • 📄 Submit your resume in a '.doc' or '.txt' format, as these are more readable by ATS software compared to PDFs.
  • 📄 Keep your resume to one page to ensure all content is scanned by ATS software, which may only read the first page.
  • 📝 Proofread your resume with tools like Grammarly or QuillBot to avoid grammatical or spelling errors that could lead to rejection.

Q & A

  • What does ATS stand for in the context of job applications?

    -ATS stands for 'Applicant Tracking System', which is a software used to screen resumes and decide if they are suitable for the job based on qualifications, skills, and work experience.

  • Why is it important to have an ATS-Friendly resume?

    -An ATS-Friendly resume is important because it ensures that the Applicant Tracking System can read and understand your qualifications, skills, and work experience, increasing the chances of your resume being selected for manual screening by HR.

  • What happens if your resume is not ATS-Friendly?

    -If your resume is not ATS-Friendly, the software may not be able to read it, leading to the perception that your resume is not relevant, and it may be automatically excluded from the screening process without going for manual screening.

  • What is the impact of AI on recruitment processes?

    -The impact of AI on recruitment processes is significant as it leads to more automation, including AI-based interviews and the use of Applicant Tracking Systems for primary shortlisting, making it crucial for resumes to be ATS-Friendly.

  • How can you check if your resume is ATS-Friendly?

    -You can check if your resume is ATS-Friendly by using online tools such as Jobscan, Resume.com, Resume Worded, or Indeed Resume Builder, which provide a score and suggest improvements for your resume.

  • What are the recommended fonts for an ATS-Friendly resume?

    -The recommended fonts for an ATS-Friendly resume are simple and standard, such as 'Arial' and 'Times New Roman', and should avoid the use of italics.

  • How should you structure your work experience and education on an ATS-Friendly resume?

    -On an ATS-Friendly resume, you should structure your work experience and education in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.

  • Why are bullet points important in an ATS-Friendly resume?

    -Bullet points are important in an ATS-Friendly resume because they improve readability, making it easier for the Applicant Tracking System to scan and understand the information.

  • What is the role of action verbs in framing sentences for an ATS-Friendly resume?

    -Action verbs play a crucial role in framing sentences for an ATS-Friendly resume as they make the sentences more powerful and signal to the software that these are significant resume points.

  • How can you ensure that your resume includes the right keywords for a job or internship opportunity?

    -You can ensure that your resume includes the right keywords by tailoring them to the job or internship opportunity and using online tools like 'Skill Syncer' to identify missing keywords and tailor your resume accordingly.

  • What file formats are recommended for an ATS-Friendly resume submission?

    -The recommended file formats for an ATS-Friendly resume submission are '.doc' and '.txt', as they are more readable by Applicant Tracking Systems, while PDF is usually advised against.

  • Why is it advised to keep your resume to one page in length?

    -It is advised to keep your resume to one page in length because some Applicant Tracking Systems may only scan the first page, and exceeding one page could result in important information being overlooked.

  • How can you ensure your resume has no grammatical or spelling errors?

    -You can ensure your resume has no grammatical or spelling errors by using tools like Grammarly or QuillBot to scan your resume and correct any mistakes before submission.

Outlines

00:00

📄 Understanding ATS and Creating a Resume

The first paragraph introduces the concept of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and the importance of making resumes ATS-friendly. It explains that ATS is software used by HR to screen resumes, and if a resume isn't ATS-friendly, it may be automatically excluded from consideration, regardless of the applicant's qualifications. The paragraph also shares a personal anecdote about a batchmate from IIM Ahmedabad who struggled to get interview calls due to a low ATS score. The speaker then emphasizes the growing role of AI in recruitment processes, suggesting that ATS will become increasingly important. The paragraph concludes with an introduction to the steps to make a resume ATS-friendly, mentioning the use of online tools like Jobscan, Resume.com, Resume Worded, and Indeed Resume Builder, which can provide a score and suggest improvements.

05:01

🔑 Key Points for an ATS-Friendly Resume

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of creating an ATS-friendly resume, outlining ten key points. It starts with the recommendation to use simple and standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman and to avoid italics and graphics. The paragraph then advises starting with the most recent work experience and education to align with the reverse-reading pattern of ATS software. Clear headings are suggested for sections like education and work experience to make them easily distinguishable. The use of bullet points and powerful action verbs in sentences is encouraged to improve readability and signal the software that the resume contains strong points. The paragraph also highlights the importance of tailoring keywords to the job description and suggests using a tool like 'Skill Syncer' to identify missing keywords. It advises quantifying achievements with numbers or percentages and stresses the importance of submitting the resume in a readable format, preferably '.doc' or '.txt' over PDF. The length of the resume should be kept to one page, and the final point is to ensure perfect grammar and spelling to avoid direct rejection by ATS software.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡ATS

ATS stands for 'Applicant Tracking System'. It is a software application that helps employers manage job applicants. In the context of the video, ATS is crucial because it screens resumes to determine their relevance to a job opening. If a resume is not ATS-friendly, it may not be read properly by the software and could be automatically excluded from the hiring process. The video emphasizes the importance of making a resume ATS-friendly to increase the chances of it being considered by HR personnel.

💡Resume

A resume is a document used by job applicants to present their skills, experience, and education. In the video, the resume is the central focus because it is the primary tool for getting past the ATS and into the hands of HR. The script discusses how to make a resume ATS-friendly, which is essential in today's job market where many companies use ATS to filter applicants.

💡Screening

Screening in the context of the video refers to the process by which ATS evaluates resumes to decide if they meet the qualifications for a job. It is a preliminary step in the hiring process where irrelevant resumes are rejected, and only the relevant ones are passed on to HR for further review. The video explains that if a resume is not ATS-friendly, it will fail this screening process.

💡Qualifications

Qualifications are the skills, education, and experience that make a candidate suitable for a job. The video script mentions that even if a candidate has the right qualifications, if their resume is not ATS-friendly, the ATS software may not recognize these qualifications, leading to the resume being rejected.

💡Skills

Skills are specific abilities that a candidate possesses and that are relevant to the job they are applying for. In the video, it is highlighted that resumes should include relevant skills, especially those mentioned in the job description, to increase the chances of passing the ATS screening. The use of keywords related to these skills is emphasized.

💡Work Experience

Work experience refers to the jobs or tasks a candidate has previously undertaken. The video script advises to list work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent, to make it easier for ATS to read and understand.

💡Keywords

Keywords in a resume are specific terms or phrases that match the job description and highlight the candidate's relevant skills and experiences. The video explains the importance of tailoring keywords to the job opportunity and using a tool like 'Skill Syncer' to identify missing keywords in a resume.

💡Action Verbs

Action verbs are used to describe a candidate's activities and achievements in a more dynamic way. The video script suggests using powerful action verbs in the resume to make the content more engaging and to signal to the ATS that the candidate has taken initiative and achieved results.

💡Bullet Points

Bullet points are used to organize information in a list format, making it easier to read and understand. The video recommends using bullet points in each section of the resume to improve readability, which is beneficial for both ATS software and human reviewers.

💡Quantify

To quantify means to express something in numerical terms. The video script advises using numbers, percentages, or metrics in the resume to provide concrete evidence of a candidate's achievements, which can help the resume stand out to ATS.

💡Format

The format of a resume refers to how it is presented and structured. The video discusses the importance of using a format that is readable by ATS software, such as '.doc' or '.txt', and advises against using PDFs which may not be as easily scanned.

💡Length

Length in the context of the video refers to the number of pages in a resume. It is recommended to keep the resume to one page only, as some ATS software may only scan the first page, and a longer resume could risk important information being overlooked.

💡Grammar

Grammar refers to the rules governing the structure of a language. The video script stresses the importance of correct grammar in a resume, as grammatical errors can lead to the resume being rejected by ATS. It suggests using tools like Grammarly or QuillBot to ensure the resume is error-free.

Highlights

Have you ever applied for numerous internships or jobs and received no responses? This video will help you understand why.

Many resumes are not ATS-Friendly, which is why they get rejected.

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, a software that screens your resume before it reaches HR.

If your resume is not ATS-Friendly, it will be excluded from the screening process.

An example is given of an IIM Ahmedabad graduate whose resume scored only 32 out of 100 on an ATS tool.

Making your resume ATS-Friendly is crucial in the era of AI and automated recruitment processes.

Use online tools like Jobscan, Resume.com, Resume Worded, or Indeed Resume Builder to improve your resume's ATS score.

There are ten key points to make your resume ATS-Friendly: Font, Chronology, Headings, Bullet Points, Action Verbs, Keywords, Quantify, Format, Length, and Grammar.

Use simple and standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, and avoid italics, diagrams, or graphs.

List work experience and education in reverse chronological order.

Use proper headings for sections like education, work experience, and skills, making them slightly larger than the rest of the text.

Use bullet points under each section to improve readability.

Include powerful action verbs in your sentences to make them more impactful.

Tailor keywords in your resume to match the job or internship opportunity.

Quantify your achievements with numbers, percentages, or metrics.

Submit your resume in a readable format like .doc or .txt, and avoid PDFs.

Keep your resume to one page as some ATS only scan the first page.

Ensure there are no grammatical or spelling errors using tools like Grammarly or QuillBot.

Following these tips can significantly improve your ATS score and help your resume get past the screening software.

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