Best practices to apply to your resume in 2021 (Applicant tracking systems -ATS friendly)

What many job seekers don't realize is that 75 percent of job applications are rejected before they are seen by human eyes. Before your resume reaches the hands of a live person, it often must pass through with what is known as an applicant tracking system. Unfortunately, more often than not, your job application is lost in the resume bin and you're left wondering why the employer or hiring manager wasn't that into you or didn’t get back to you.

Below is everything you need to know about best practices you can optimize on your resume to beat these bots.

Avoid placing important details like your contact information in the header or footer of your resume document

Less is more when it comes to your resume format. Stick to a simple, clean resume design that doesn't include embedded charts, images, or unusual fonts.

Steer clear of right-hand columns

If you plan to use a resume design that incorporates columns, opt for a left-hand rail or column. Unfortunately, resumes with a right-hand rail or column do not successfully pass through the ATS.

Customize your resume with relevant keywords

Identify the important resume keywords found in the job listings that interest you and incorporate them throughout, particularly in the “Key Skills” and “Work Experience” sections.

Save your resume as a Word document file type

Unfortunately, there are still some ATS resume scanning platforms that cannot convert PDF, HTML, Open Office, or Apple Pages documents and will discard resumes that are saved in such document formats.