ATS – what is it & who uses it?

Have you heard about something called ATS? Do you know what it is, who uses it, and what for?

Well, if you have been involved in a job search in the past several years, you must have heard the term ATS.

Professional CV writers and those who want to present themselves in such a way often use this term to win over customers. They say they provide ATS optimized CVs. But do you know what is ATS and who uses it? There’s a lot of misconception out there so we’ll try to break it down.

First things first

First of all, let’s clear up one thing – ATS is not software a recruiter uses to scan your CV.

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System and the term itself is much more complex than a simple “CV scanner”. Which is what most people thing ATS is.

The ATS manages the job posts, allows the recruiters to post them to multiple job boards at the same time, tracks all applicants, saves their CVs, scans and ranks CV stock according to keywords, and offers an overview of the calendar and scheduled interviews.

It also provides tickets for applicants and recruiters can write notes, change the status of an application, email them through the software, etc.

To sum up, ATS makes recruiters’ lives easier and it keeps job applications nice and organized!

Who uses ATS?

Companies all over the world use it, big and small, for any role they advertise.

It saves them time and streamlines the process. Instead of one person going through hundreds of CVs, they simply run it through the application.

The ones that match the job posting most are the chosen ones and the CV owner gets a chance. The recruiter or a hiring manager looks at their CV and, if everything looks ok, they give them a call. It’s as simple as that.

Of course, we are not suggesting that every single company out there uses the application for every single opening they have! There are always exceptions, but the fact is – more and more companies rely on computers.

How to write an ATS-optimized CV?

Now, when we say that Linking Lines’ CVs are “ATS optimized”, we’re just simplifying what we do. The point is that we craft CVs that will pass the screening software if a company uses it, and the CV is focused on a particular industry or role.

The most basic steps you need to cover if you want to create an ATS-optimized CV are:

1. Keep the format simple – no need for photographs, icons, tables, or symbols
2. Watch the style – avoid having multiple fonts, colors, and capitalization
3. Target your CV – if possible, opt for a particular job position. If not, it can also work if you opt for a field or an area.
4. Do your research on keywords – check multiple job descriptions and job ads and single out those keywords that are repeated.
5. Show off your skills and experience (but don’t lie!) – highlight the most important and the most relevant skills and experience.

 

These are the first things you have to keep in mind if you’d like to pass the scanning. It can take a long time to do all of this, and it can be a cumbersome process, but if you put in the effort, it will pay off!

What if I’m not getting results?

Well, you can submit your CV for a free review right here. We offer completely free advice and you’ll get a personalized reply.

Next, if you’d like us to do your CV and cover letter, check out our services site or use the form below to get in touch.

However, if you’d like to learn how to write a CV yourself, browse our blog. We also poured all our knowledge into a step-by-step CV writing guide that’s bound to get you more replies to job applications. You can order yours here and transform your job search.

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