What happens to your résumé?

The answer is that it most likely goes to Applicant Tracking System software (ATS). The majority of job boards have partnerships with ATS software providers.

So what is ATS? Basically it is a database designed to match candidates with jobs. ATS scans for standardized keywords on a résumé. Understanding the technical ride that your résumé takes may be the key to getting an interview.

A Job requisition is created in an ATS based on input from a recruiter or hiring manger. This can be the weakest link in the chain, due to human error. (ATS will seek candidates based upon the requisition description.)

The job requisition is posted on a job board and this is your opportunity to compare your résumé with the job description. Make sure that your résumé hits the keywords in the job description. Note: Regarding your “electronic” résumé, use a simple font and get rid of special characters such as bullets.

Keywords on your résumé can be broken down into four major categories:

©2009 – Cultivating Careers

Thoughts On Resumes

Everyone seems to debate over a particular format of resume. Each debate never ends with a clear answer.

Attempting to take a logical approach and looking at the facts:

1. There are more people then jobs.


2. Hiring Managers get inundated with resumes.


3. There average time spent scanning a resume is 2 minutes.


4. Hiring Managers scan for key words.

(Keep those 4 things in mind.)

You, the unemployed person, is spinning your wheels by sending the same information (no matter the format of resume) to 100 different employers.

How about researching each and every company for their style? It might lead to a clearer perspective of what key words the Hiring Manager is seeking.

Yep, you’re going to invest time into a bit of research. During that time spent on research, you may find out that you don’t want to work for a particular employer or you lack what the employer is seeking. Maybe that’s a better investment into your job search versus killing trees on wasted paper.

©2009 – 2010 YP Mazzulo