{"id":26720,"date":"2024-09-06T13:53:32","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T03:53:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/?p=26720"},"modified":"2024-09-10T14:08:55","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T04:08:55","slug":"how-to-write-ats-resume","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/how-to-write-ats-resume\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are ATS Resumes and How Do I Write One?"},"content":{"rendered":"
If you\u2019re applying for jobs, optimising your <\/span>resumes<\/span> for ATS is going to set you apart from other candidates (especially in today\u2019s competitive job market, where companies receive more <\/span>resumes<\/span> than they can read)! However, education about what <\/span>ATS resumes<\/span> are and how to create one is still pretty scarce.\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To help you navigate this new terrain, we\u2019re running you through all things <\/span>ATS<\/span>-related, including what <\/span>ATS<\/span> stands for, how to create an <\/span>ATS resume<\/span>, and what benefits you\u2019ll reap from sinking some extra time into creating the <\/span>perfect resume<\/span>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let\u2019s start right at the beginning by covering what <\/span>resumes<\/span> actually are. After all, it\u2019s pretty tricky to <\/span>write the <\/span>perfect resume<\/span><\/a> without knowing why they\u2019re important! In short, resumes are documents that outline your skills and experience to hiring managers, and they can truly make (or break) a job application.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Think of your <\/span>resume<\/span> as your elevator pitch; you want to convey all the information that makes you a great candidate in a concise and easy-to-read manner. Trust us, the clearer your <\/span>resume<\/span> is, the more hiring managers will love you!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To keep our answer short and sweet, <\/span>there is no real difference<\/span><\/a> between <\/span>resumes<\/span> and CVs in Australia. The two terms are used interchangeably, but \u2018<\/span>resume<\/span>\u2019 is a lot more common here.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, if you\u2019re travelling abroad, things get a little more complicated. For example, in the U.S., <\/span>resumes and CVs are two distinct documents<\/span><\/a>. U.S. <\/span>resumes<\/span> are more or less the same as ours, but CVs are much more detailed (and a lot longer, so be thankful they\u2019re not popular here)!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In short, an <\/span>ATS resume<\/span> includes keywords that are highly relevant to the job title and is formatted in a way that allows it to be read by applicant tracking systems (otherwise known as <\/span>ATS<\/span>)!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ATS resumes<\/span> are quickly increasing in popularity as more and more businesses use applicant tracking systems as part of the hiring process. In fact, many of these <\/span>ATS<\/span> programs filter out <\/span>resumes<\/span> they don\u2019t see as fitting the job description (and the ones that aren\u2019t optimised!) before they even reach the hiring manager\u2019s hands. Thus, if you want an actual human to see all the work you put into creating your <\/span>resume,<\/span> it needs to make it past artificial intelligence first.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This might sound like yet another hurdle in your job-hunting journey, but we encourage you to look at it as an opportunity instead! Because many applicants don\u2019t yet know about <\/span>ATS resumes<\/span> (or simply can\u2019t be bothered optimising their <\/span>resumes<\/span>), doing so can set you apart from other applicants and potentially even land you the job!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This step is potentially the most simple: all you need to do is figure out what keywords stick out in the job listing and ensure they\u2019re peppered into your <\/span>resume.<\/span> For example, if you\u2019re applying for a fashion retail job, you\u2019ll want to focus on words such as customer service and retail.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, if you don\u2019t have retail or customer experience to list, don\u2019t worry too much. You can still find a way to integrate these keywords into your <\/span>resume<\/span>! One idea is to make your tagline \u2018Aspiring Customer Service Professional\u2019 or \u2018Future Retail Assistant\u2019 to express your enthusiasm <\/span>and <\/span><\/i>optimise your resume for the applicant tracking system. You could also pop the keywords into your personal statement by writing something along the lines of:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I have a very outgoing disposition and love helping others. Thus, I would thrive in a retail assistant role where I can provide exceptional customer service and spend my workday helping meet our customers\u2019 needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Most job listings contain a list of skills and requirements for applicants, which you\u2019ll <\/span>definitely <\/span><\/i>want to include in your <\/span>resume<\/span> (if they\u2019re actually true; it\u2019s never a good idea to lie about your capabilities). These usually include both hard and soft skills, so even if you have no experience, there will likely be a couple that you can claim!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For example, a job listing for a role in hospitality might state that the applicant needs to be skilled at:<\/span><\/p>\n Then, you\u2019ll want to take all the skills that apply and make sure they\u2019re listed in your <\/span>resume!<\/span> That way, the applicant tracking system will be able to identify you as a suitable candidate. Simple as that!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are a bunch of free <\/span>ATS resume<\/span> templates on the internet, but not all are created equal. You\u2019ll want to keep it simple; if a template is listed as <\/span>ATS<\/span>-friendly, it isn\u2019t automatically a winner. You still need to avoid bright colours and \u2018funky\u2019 formatting.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As a rule, <\/span>ATS<\/span> software prefers reverse chronological <\/span>resumes<\/span> that organise your experience by how recent it is. That is, it starts with the most recent position and works its way back. Reverse chronological <\/span>resumes<\/span> usually include the following structure:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n #1 Contact Information<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This should cover your name, phone number, email and LinkedIn profile (if applicable). A lot of templates offer space to write your address, too, but we don\u2019t recommend doing so.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n #2 Professional\/ Personal Summary<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The summary section of your <\/span>resume<\/span> is one of the trickiest parts to write, but because it\u2019s so close to the top of the first page, you\u2019ll want to nail it. Write 2-4 sentences outlining your experience, skills and, potentially, your ambitions.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n #3 Skills<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your skills section is the place to get bragging about all of your impressive work skills (regardless of whether they\u2019re hard or soft, but it\u2019s best to categorise), and don\u2019t forget to include those sweet skills from the job listing!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n #4 Work Experience<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This is the section where workers with <\/span>any experience<\/span><\/a> list their professional history. However, if you\u2019re applying for your first job, you can swap it out for <\/span>volunteer experience<\/span><\/a> (trust us, you\u2019re probably <\/span>more skilled than you realise<\/span><\/a>). If you don\u2019t have much work experience to list yet, don\u2019t feel discouraged. We all start somewhere, and hiring managers totally understand that!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n #5 Education<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The education section is your opportunity to brag about all your academic pursuits. As a base, you\u2019ll want your school\u2019s name, the year you started, and the year you\u2019re set to graduate. From there, you can add details about extracurriculars, clubs, and awards, too! Include anything that could help your case and prove you\u2019re right for the job!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Before you head off to write, don\u2019t forget about these non-negotiable formatting rules that help your <\/span>resume<\/span> become as optimised as possible!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Now that you\u2019re equipped to craft the <\/span>perfect resume<\/span> (and make sure it\u2019s <\/span>ATS<\/span> optimised), we think you\u2019re ready to start sending out those applications! Be sure to check out our guide to help you <\/span>What is a <\/span>Resume<\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Resume vs. CV:<\/span> What’s the Difference?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
What is an ATS Resume?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
How to Make a Resume<\/span> ATS<\/span>-Friendly<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Identify the Main Keywords in the Job Listing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Outline Relevant Skills and Responsibilities<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Use an <\/span>ATS<\/span>-Friendly <\/span>Resume<\/span> Format<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Go Forth and Land Your Dream Job!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n