3 Quick and Easy Ways to Build a Recruiter and ATS Friendly Resume

Many job seekers don't know that recruiters only spend 3-5 seconds reviewing each resume, and there are many systems that companies use for application tracking (also known as ATS).

This is the main problem with the current job market. Without understanding the recruitment process, most job seekers struggle to build a resume that attracts the recruiter's attention and beats the ATS.

Some of my clients even hire professional writers to build their resumes and wonder why they didn't receive interview opportunities. When they shared their resume with me, my heart just sank. From a recruiter's perspective, I can immediately identify the problems.

Their resumes were full of unnecessary information, inconsistent messages, lacking metrics and keywords, weird graphic design, etc. Overall, their resumes were not readable from a recruiter's perspective.

You can also check out the article “8 Marketing Resume Mistakes That Can Jeopardize Your Chances of Getting the Interview” to learn resume mistakes that you should avoid.

So today, let me share some recruitment secrets to help you understand what potential employers are looking for and how to optimize your current resume for a recruiter and to be ATS-friendly.

How do recruiters scan your resume in 3-5 seconds? 

Recruiters check your most recent experiences first. 

Job seekers should always put effort into providing detailed but concise information on their most recent roles.

• Use 5-7 bullet points to list out your role responsibilities and achievements.

• Use right power verbs to convey compelling messages.

• Use numbers and metrics to grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.

Not sure how to write effective work experience statements on your resume to get recruiter’s attention? Browse our DIY Resume Products to help you build your own resume!

Recruiters scan your career objective or work summary at the top. 

This section is vital for job seekers who are in the early stages of their career or are planning to change their career path to a different role/industry. Even job seekers who have significant work experience should have this section.

Use 2-3 lines to help recruiters learn about your passion/overall experience and add the right keywords to boost your chances of being found by more recruiters in ATS.

Let's use the example below. Recruiters can quickly tell this person has 6 years of PR experience in the Entertainment industry. They don't have to read through your resume, and your job is to write that concise message to help them learn about your background in a second.

Recruiters may not review your education experience

If you already have over 2 years of work experience, it is better to put education and any relevant training courses or certifications at the bottom of your resume. You want recruiters to focus on the more important information at the top of your resume within 3-5 seconds. 

Why do recruiters use keywords to search for talent? 

Wondering how a recruiter spots qualified candidates in their ATS? Let's use Amazon as an example. They are a global company that receives millions of resumes from all around the world. They use the Boolean search with specific keywords to pull the resumes out from the ATS or other recruiting tools, including LinkedIn.

That's why having the right keywords on your resume will boost your chances of being found by more recruiters in the job market. However, you should avoid “keyword stuffing” on your resume. All keywords that you use should match your messages and be readable by recruiters and hiring managers.  

You can download my free marketing keywords resource and add those keywords to your resume and LinkedIn! 

What resume layout or format is the best?

Many job seekers don't know that recruiters are familiar with reviewing certain resume formats and layouts. Imagine that you are a recruiter for a second; you are reviewing hundreds of resumes right now. Then, a creative resume design pops up. What would be your first reaction? 

Sure, your creativity may catch the recruiter's attention, but they don't want to spend more than 5 seconds on one resume to search for the right information. Trust me—recruiters won't waste their precious time, especially if they work in Enterprise.

Additionally, there are many kinds of systems that companies use for applicant tracking. Some ATS pull the information from your resume and put it into an application form, so recruiters can quickly find the information that they are looking for. If you have a design-heavy resume, it may confuse the ATS and pull the wrong information from your resume. 

That's why it is always better to focus on creating a plain text resume design and put your time and effort into writing compelling and effective messages, not designing your resume. If you want to show potential employers your design skills, create an online portfolio to showcase your design work and include the link on your resume.  

Still not sure how to optimize your resume? Need to transform your current resume into a recruiter- and ATS-friendly resume that can help you win more interviews?