It sounds pretty mysterious. So, what is it?
ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, and it is a type of software that employers and hiring managers buy to assist in managing the hiring process for their companies.
Ideally, ATS should completely automate the entire recruiting process, from job posting to resume screening, and help identify the most qualified candidates for a job opening.
When an applicant submits their resume, the ATS scans the applicant’s file for relevant keywords and phrases that match the job description. It then ranks the resumes based on how well they match the job requirements. Resumes with the highest scores are then sent to the hiring manager for further review. There are many different ways that ATS calculates and quantifies this score, and it is important to note that each software works differently. “White font hacks,” or copy and pasting the entire job listing into your resume cannot fool ATS.
Unfortunately, most of this software doesn’t work quite right for the way that humans tend to write and organize their resumes.
Humans love synonyms, multiple columns, various visual dividers, headers, footers, images, ranking systems, and aesthetic pictures. ATS does not tend to read these properly. A header may be read as the end of a page… meaning that the recruiter would only receive an applicant’s name and contact information. Multiple columns beyond the left-most column may be smashed together into plain text gibberish, or simply not read at all. The list goes on and on.
So, why do almost all companies use this software if it doesn’t really work?
One of the main benefits of using an ATS is that it saves time and effort in the recruitment process. It allows employers to manage a large number of resumes and applications efficiently and effectively. This frees up a lot of hours of labor.
The downside is that, while the positions are eventually filled by a candidate, the candidate that makes it through to human eyes may not be the most qualified or best fit for the position. Technically, the software did what it was supposed to do; it filled a hole, albeit at the endless frustration of an estimated 27 million “hidden,” or discouraged, job seekers in the United States alone.
Luckily, we have done a lot of research over the last few years on how to best tailor a resume for both human and ATS “eyes,” so you don’t have to. It worked for us, our friends, and our families.
