CV Writing

What is ATS (Applicant Tracking System) in 2020? 5 Reasons Why CV Fails in Passing the ATS Screening!

Modern recruitment patterns are fast replacing the old traditions. With the unprecedented rise in population, the number of employment opportunities is also more than it was in the past. It is a consistently evolving situation. Modes and methods of professional work are changing, so are the processes of hiring workers.

Gone were the days when professional experts enjoyed low employment competition. And then the world witnessed gut-wrenching competition for work. The world witnessed industries notified the public with a ‘House-full’ note. The world witnessed organizations adopted stricter recruitment policies. The wave emerged similar to the way we are observing the implementation of tighter immigration policies in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and some European countries. The world witnessed HR departments switching to digital screening methods for hiring desired workers.

The recruiters use ATS to rid the burden of unwanted CVs. Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is quite useful to enable recruiters to carefully select efficient, capable, and eligible candidates from the bulk. Don’t be mistaken with the concept of T (Tracking) in ATS. To make it clear, an aspirant needs to bear in mind that this tracking has nothing to do with tracking the stage of your CV in the line of the recruitment process. It is all about tracking those CVs which fully meets the desired criteria out of the rest.

What is ATS?

Automation has revolutionized the business world. It saved money and resources. Not only the work is done, but also the hiring of workers is inspired by it. Historical Insight: The story of ATS started when Large Scale Enterprises shuffled their recruitment process. They adopted the use of software technology. ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software was designed and programmed to streamline an extraneous routine hiring process.

Several thousand applicants were used to compete against a small number of vacancies every week. Resultantly, the process lengthened, and every official week ended with the beginning of a cumbersome hiring process. To make it short and easy to manage a software was incorporated for gathering, inspecting, prioritizing, and listing the candidates racing against the same vacancies. In a short period, the software became a vital tool for recruitment in almost all mid to large scale companies of the world.

Reasons Why CVs Fail in Passing ATS Screening, Why This Mercilessness?

1.      Conflict of File Type

ATS oriented recruitment process is a bit complex. It begins with a non-human interaction where the software screens out the CV initially. Later, if passed in ATS, the CV is usually reviewed by the HR human eye. One of the most common reasons for failing the ATS is the incorrect file format. Most of the ATS software support .doc or .docx format. On the contrary majority of the aspirants prepare their CV in PDF (Portable Document Format) format. And the clash appears that results in the exclusion of the candidacy from the process.

Another reason for the conflict of the file type is, ignoring the direction given in the job advertisement. Most of the time, job-advertisement directs the aspirants to submit their CVs in specific file type(s). When a CV is created without realizing the direction given in the advertisement, chances are higher that the application will be rejected based on the mismatched format of the document. In some cases, the recommended format of the document is not given in the advertisement. It creates confusion and ends up the exclusion of the CV from the recruitment process at the earliest stage. So, always make sure to submit your CV in the correct format.

2.      Misplaced Contact Information

Recent research reveals astonishing reports on set criteria followed by most of the ATS software in large organizations. One-fourth of the CVs are rejected by ATS, mainly because the software fails to locate contact information such as name, contact number, and email address.

Research and studies show that software fails in those CVs in which contact information is formatted either in the footer or header of the document. Contact information is a vital part of any CV. Without locating this section on the document, the whole process becomes futile. Resultantly, the job-application is rejected based on incomplete information given by the candidate.

3.      Ignoring the Significance of Optimization

Most of the CVs are designed without following considering the right technicalities of optimization. It is a dilemma on the part of the job seeker, who is busy in circulating his/her CV against potential vacancies announced by large organizations. All the way, the art of keeping the CV optimized according to the algorithms of an ATS software is a far cry.

To make this point easier to understand, we need to explore words, phrases, and terminologies ATS software uses to comprehend CV. Study shows that most of the ATS software works on a set pattern of specific headings to read the content under them. Besides, there are other elements the software deals with while screening out the CVs. How to overcome this issue? Read the job advertisement especially the job description carefully. List down the noticeable keywords and place them in your CV to make sure it gets noticed by the ATS during the screening process.

4.      Infographics

The use of infographics in the CV that may include images, graphs, charts, and tables is trending nowadays. Though it beautifies the CV, it hampers the chances of the application to pass ATS software screening. For a human eye, CV designed with images, graphs, and tabular form of data as most of the IT professionals include in their CVs, is not an effective method for passing ATS software. Robots or Artificial Intelligence (IA) do not clearly understand the concepts behind and information in them. So, the use of infographics in a CV creation always discourages the chances for job applications to pass tracking software.

5.      Not Sticking to Simple Bullet Points

Usually, bullets are embedded by using any form of symbols available. Some use simple arrows, cross signs, squares, dots, ticks, numbers (Roman, Arabic), and alphabets. Others use fancy, colorful, and looking symbols like flowers, etc. The more these signs are fancy, attractive, or novel the dangerous. Most of the ATS software does not recognize the intricate characters in bullets. As a result, the CV loses its significance and faces much fewer chances to clear the screening process.

6.      Using Complex Design / Template

The design of the CV refers to how all the necessary information presented in the document. Some job seekers deliberately use innovative CV designs to impress recruiters. Though a new or unique style of presenting credentials, skills, and records appear attractive, it confuses recruiters. Hiring managers face a bulk number of job applications in routine. They try to invest the shortest period in dealing with a job application. For this, to work, the job application needs to be based on standard pattern, design, and style. Any type of innovation in any of these features of CV increases time requires scanning it. Resultantly, the authority in charge is vulnerable to lose interest in the application. They may confront complexities in comprehending the job application. And ultimately, this can cause rejection for the aspirant. Remember after clearing the ATS, the CV will have to be good enough to impress the HR guy.

How ATS Compatible Templates Can Help Land the Interview?

Now it comes the time to find ways to save the CV from failing ATS screening. There are authentic and reliable tips and tricks which help one making job application more and more effective.

So, what is the simplest and easiest way?

The best way to make your CV ATS compatible is to get your CV written by a professional CV writing expert. They are professional service providers who know the pros and cons of ATS software. They are a specialized mind with a clear understanding of the ATS algorithm, which enables your CV to get through the complex and strict screening of hiring processes. You can easily find many top CV writing service providers in Pakistan online.

In the following lines, you will find the guidelines, which professional CV writing experts follow to save your CV from failing the ATS screening. The solutions will be discussed in the same order as the problems identified above.

1.      Always Use Recommended File Type

It always of immense importance to identify the type of file required in a job advertisement. A professional CV writing expert has a better understanding of the file formats. He/she knows which file format is mostly accepted by most of the ATS software. So, it is better to leave it to these experts. Most of the ATS software accept DOC or DOCX format of the CV file. Using PDF file format may help you preserve the format and design of your CV, but most of the ATS software does not recognize this format while analyzing CVs in the hiring process.

2.      Choose Right Place for Contact Information

Professional CV writing experts have better knowledge about the best place of contact information on a CV. Usually, putting this information out of the footer and header area is a less risky technique. So, one can save one’s CV from rejection under ATS screening, by keeping this point in mind.

3.      Optimize Your CV

Optimization has always been a technical phenomenon. An ordinary job seeker knows very little about it. CV writing experts are the best option to get an optimized job application. It includes using the right keywords from the job description of the job in question. Multiple advertisements of different organizations for a specific job can be used to optimize your CV to easily pass the ATS screening. Noting down all the major keywords and job defining terminologies in different advertisements can be effective to prepare an optimized CV.

4.      Avoid Use of Infographics

Keeping your CV simple in its writing is the best way out to get yourself land for a job interview. And CV writing professional can be a potential resource for creating a simple and acceptable to ATS screening CV. What a CV needs to be simple is just keep it out of imagery, graphs, a tabular form of data and charts. This way, the CV is most likely to succeed in passing ATS screening.

So, keep the format in its possible simplest form. It is another tip and trick to get your CV to pass the ATS eye. Here simple format means using a common and professional form of a bullet for presenting your professional record in your CV. A professional CV writer has a better understanding of which type of bullet is considered as simple in the professional world. He/she knows which specific type of bullet is riskier if used in a CV competing for an ATS screening.

5.      Keep It as Flat as a Pancake  

It is another point referring to keep your CV simple. The design of a CV is a critical element that needs to be incorporated with special care. A fancy or complex design may cause a CV loose potential to pass ATS screening. ATS software works on a predetermined set of CV structures. It may include hierarchy, the chronology of your professional record follows in its presentation. A professional CV writer knows better the suitable design of your CV that fulfills the need for simplicity as well as the coherence of records at the same time.

From the above lines of arguments, it is now crystal clear that rules of the game of the organization’s hiring techniques are changed. We cannot rely on the old model of hiring that started with the submission of a CV and ended with an interview call from the employer. Sky-touching competition in the job market and increasing elements of automation in the industries are deteriorating the circumstances for young job seekers.

The introduction of ATS software technology has revolutionized the whole hiring process for large businesses. It is now more important to create your entire job application including Cover letter and CV with a detailed consultation with professional CV writers. A CV must be optimized, simple, according to the set standards of ATS, and clear in its presentation of information. Creating a CV according to these directions needs an expert mind to win a job in an era of ATS software.