ATS doesn’t really stand for “Always Target Specifically.” But that’s what you have to do to build a resume that passes the tests of the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that most employers use to filter resumes. An ATS (sometimes referred to as an “application tracking system”) is a software program that saves employers time and trouble by searching resumes for keywords that describe the qualifications they’re looking for in a job candidate. 

These systems scan resume content looking for desired keywords and then rank the resume according to how many it contains. The resumes that get the worst scores will usually be rejected without any human review, while those ranked highest rise to the top of the pile for a hiring manager to start reading.

For example, a magazine may be looking for “an art director with five years of experience, proven talents in illustration and design, and excellent skills in Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and InDesign.” All the words bolded here are likely to be input by the employer into the applicant tracking system so that it can search for these resume keywords.

An ATS-compliant resume is a document created in a way that lets the applicant tracking system parse the application with ease. The formatting is simple and easy to scan. ATS-friendly resumes also contain keywords that match the job ad, and highlight relevant work experience and professional skills.

Jobscan software analyzes your resume against proven recruiter preferences and hidden requirements buried in the job description.