Should You Optimize Your Resume for ATS - Sterling Career Concepts

Should You Optimize Your Resume for ATS Should You Optimize Your Resume for ATS? Much has been written and debated on the use of applicant tracking systems (ATS) lately.    I am often asked about it by prospective clients and approach this topic from two angles. In general, for every resume I write, I request 2-3 target job postings for several reasons, one of which is to ensure I am incorporating industry terminology into the document.   Not all companies and not all positions are screened by ATS, and unfortunately you will not always know when submitting your resume. Applying to smaller companies or positions for which you know you can submit your resume through an internal contact are effective ways to circumvent an ATS. If youre responding to online postings or submitting your resume in to a companys website, there is a greater chance they are utilizing an ATS to help with initial screenings. In those situations or whenever a client feels he/she may be encountering ATS-related roadblocks, I utilize PrepTels Resumeter service to optimize keywords in the resume for a particular position.  The frustrating and illogical part of this process (and why the Resumeter service adds value to the process) is that ATS software programs (of which there are several) determine keywords differently (via algorithms) than a human reading through the job posting. It should be noted though that optimizing for one posting will not ensure optimization for another posting so this can become a labor-intensive approach to submitting resumes and one that plays to the computer so whenever possible I recommend the first strategy of networking into a company and passing your resume on to a live person since (1) it helps you stand out as a candidate, and (2) at the end of the day, it’s still people (and not computers) who hire people. The good news is PrepTel’s Resumeter tool is free for job seekers’ own use or you can opt to work with me to optimize your resume for a particular posting. Email or call me today for a price quote and to get started right away!