Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software programs used by companies to expedite the recruiting process. ATS serve many functions but are primarily used to scan applicant CVs/résumés, and cover letters to identify the most qualified candidates based on the matching of relevant key words, skills, experience, location, and more, to the opportunity to which the applicant is applying. The way you write and format your documents can have a significant impact on how well your they will get ranked.
Identifying if an Employer Uses an ATS
Over 90% of Fortune 500 companies report using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and they are gaining popularity among smaller companies as well. While some organizations may use the same ATS, the software versions they utilize, or the way in which those systems are set to evaluate a CV/résumé or cover letter, may be different. The table below outlines some of the more commonly used ATS software.
| JazzHR | VidCruiter | Greenhouse | Breezy | BambooHR |
| Jobvite | Freshteam | Arcoro | ClearCompany | Oracle Taleo |
| WorkDay | Homegrown | Brassring | ExactHire | Hireology |
While there is not a hard and fast way to determine if an organization is using an Applicant Tracking System, there are some indicators you could look for. To start, try looking at the application portal’s URL as it may display a separate software name like one of the examples listed above. You can also look for a designation or icon on the webpage itself saying the system is “powered by ”, or simply outlining the software’s image.
Pro Tips when Submitting your CV/Résumé to an Applicant Tracking System:
Because you may not know which version of ATS is being used or the parameters your CV/résumé or cover letter is being evaluated against, there will never be a fool proof way to “beat the ATS”. However, there are actions you can take to make sure your CV/résumé or cover letter is as optimized as much as possible.
Formating Tips:
- Save your CV/résumé or cover letter as a .doc or .docx file.
- Do not use templates, tables, grids, and columns (not even hidden).
- Do not include graphics, icons, and photos.
- Do not include decorative borders, fonts, colors, etc.
- Do not include a header or footer.
- Organization is typically most recent to least recent within content sections.
- Include your name and page numbers after page one (e.g., Name, Page 2/3).
- Try not to split content across two pages, especially a bullet point between pages, but rather adjust your margins to keep as much content intact as possible.
- When adding dates, select a format and stick to it throughout the entire CV/résumé. As an example, if you are abbreviating the months then consistently do that. If you are using a numeral format, then use that throughout.
- Decide whether you will use a period at the end of your bullet points and then be consistent with the decision.
- Consider using the following fonts: Calibri, Arial, Courier, Garamond (Sans serif fonts are easier for humans to read).
- Font size: 11 or 12 pt., section headings can be slightly larger, and 14-16 pt. font for your name at the top of the first page.
- Equal margins around all four sides are the ideal but sometimes margins might be adjusted to accommodate fitting the content on a page. Consider .5 inch minimum and 1.0 inch maximum for margin settings.
Content Tips:
- When applying for an opportunity fully read the description and review your CV/résumé, tailoring it to best represent your skills, knowledge, experience, and training in relationship to the qualifications that the employer seeks.
- Learn about CV/résumé content that is common or unique to your field from your faculty or mentors.
- Mirror language from the position description in your CV/résumé or cover letter (i.e., match keywords but don’t do a direct copy and paste of full responsibilities from the opportunity to which you are applying).
- Include a tailored qualifications section, below your contact information, to incorporate keywords and skills that show you are well-aligned for the opportunity.
- Use standard section headings that include the word “experience” (e.g., Work Experience, Research Experience, etc.).
- Determine the order in which you would like your sections to appear, knowing that the first 1-2 pages get the most attention.
- Match the way software and other technical skills are written in the opportunity description.
- Write out your degree but also include the degree abbreviation (e.g., Master of Science in Data Science [MS]).
- If the job/internship description uses acronyms, then also include those (e.g. Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or Finite Element Method (FEM)).
- Do not use pronouns in your bullet point statements.
