Step 4: Double-Check
Go back to the job announcement and compare it directly to your resume. Double-check that the top keywords are in your resume, that you meet all qualifications and skills required, and that you are mirroring their language. Mirroring their language means that the terminology they are using, you are also using, down to the tense it is written in. Example: The skill needed in the job announcement is “excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills”. However, written on your resume is “The ability to manage and lead, effectively communicate within both the private and public sector, and work individually as well as in a group”. Both sentences may look like they mean the same thing just in different words, BUT an ATS doesn’t work on context. Say what they are asking in the words they are using, as long as it is true.
An applicant doesn’t know the specific formula for getting past a specific company’s applicant tracking system, but by taking a little extra time in comparing your information to the information they are providing you about the position might just get you through. The key to getting beyond the ATS is attention to detail.
Step 3: Proofread
Before you submit your resume and application,or even upload your resume into your profile on a company site,you MUST proofread. You cannot get through the ATS if you don’t make it past the spell checker. Grammar and spelling errors can disqualify you immediately. If you are unsure of your spelling or grammar for your resume, have a friend or family member read it, set up a one-on-
one assessment with a specialist here at Vet Jobs, or record yourself reading it out loud and play it back to hear.