What does application tracking software look for

Technology has changed just about every aspect of our lives, but did you know it may also be drastically affecting your chances of landing a new job?
Traditionally, it was a challenge just to get past the first step of having your resume read and progressed to the next stage of an interview.
That’s why it was always so important to have a clear, concise professional resume that captures the attention of the recruiter. Some experts suggest you only have 10 seconds or so to get past the first step of recruitment.
But that’s only if you’re lucky enough to have your resume looked at by an actual person. These days, technological advances mean that 10 seconds can seem like an age with the widespread use of application tracking software by many recruiters and employers.
Commonly known as an applicant tracking system (ATS), there are tips and tricks required to get your resume ranked highly enough to make it to a human and get your foot in the door for an interview.
First of all, what exactly is an applicant tracking system?
ATS is software that can sort through hundreds of even thousands of resumes to sort through the good from the bad and save the recruiter hours of wasted time looking through pages after pages of resumes.
Generally, the ATS will search for keywords to determine the best fit for the position being advertised and recruited for. Depending on the relevant keywords contained in your resume and application contains, you are ranked higher or lower.
An ATS can also act as a sort of project management tool for the recruitment process by storing email addresses, communicating with applicants directly and tracking progress of the recruitment process.
While they were first used by large multinational companies who have to process huge volumes of resumes and applications, they are increasingly used by smaller employers and recruitment agencies to save time and resources.
Interestingly, an ATS stores resumes and applications in a database so that companies are able to search for suitable candidates regardless of when the job-seeker submitted their application.
One of the easiest ways to think about maximizing your chances of ranking highly in an ATS is to predict what the employer might be searching for when recruiting to a certain role. Just like a website that utilises certain keywords for search engine optimisation, your resume and application should also feature specific keywords you believe the employer will be looking for.
That means research on the company and job you’re applying for is crucial to your success when it comes to ranking highly on an ATS. Only when you know as much as possible about the company and role can you tailor your resume and application to suit the opportunity and predict searchable keywords.
While we may not necessarily enjoy having our future employment potentially curtailed by a computer, the fact is that applicant tracking systems are here to stay and job-seekers must acknowledge that.
Armed with some insight into the ATS process, it is possible to give yourself the very best chance of scoring highly on an ATS.
As always, if in doubt, it is best to consult an employment or resume expert https://www.resumestoyou.com.au. Or call 1300 761 626
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