What Is an ATS Should You Care #jobsearch #resume

What Is an ATS Should You Care #jobsearch #resume For a few years the new buzz word in training for resume writers is how to write a resume to get through the ATS system. ATS is applicant tracking system, which is kind of like JibberJobber for the recruiter.  They arent tracking a relationship with YOU as much as they are tracking specific job openings, who applies, and who gets to have an interview with a human. I guess that is tracking you, kind of. But only as far as that specific opportunity goes.  There is no relationship nurturing going on its all about filling open jobs, and weeding out the high percentage of people who shouldnt have applied in the first place. You can imagine how resume writers want to write a resume that will get through the ATS, and eventually get to the live person.  I havent completely wrapped my brain around the technology, but Ive understood that most jobs people are hired for are with companies that are smaller, and might not even know what ATS means.  Ive focused my advice more on networking into a job than on monkeying around with your resume to get it better (which I call hiding from your job search, since you can do that for days and weeks and not really get any closer to getting an interview). But I keep my ears open to what the experts are saying, and am always looking for any information I can share with you.  When I saw this article on LinkedIn from Louise Kursmark, I knew it would have important information.  I think this is a super-important perspective because she is a well-known resume writer who has trained hundreds, maybe thousands, of resume writers.  Louise gave me permission to repost her article here (original post) I hope this helps you with your job search strategy today! ATS: I Couldnt Care Less ATS â€" Applicant Tracking Systems â€" cause a lot of twitter and chatter among job seekers and resume writers. I might even call it an obsession about finding the keywords, mimicking the job posting, and designing the document to get through the automated screener. Personally, I think that obsession is a distraction from the real work of job search. Even if your resume is a perfect match for the job posting, you have a very small chance of being chosen for an interview. That’s because your resume is one of dozens or even hundreds competing for just a handful of top slots. It’s likely at least a few other candidates will have qualifications that are slightly stronger or a background that’s just a bit closer to the ideal specified by the recruiter or employer. So it’s easy to spend a lot of fruitless time trying to rise to the top of a very large pool. And when you don’t, you feel frustrated, discouraged, maybe even depressed and angry. My advice: Have a keyword-rich, simply formatted resume that stands a reasonable chance of making it through the ATS. Then, spend less time applying to posted openings and more time getting referrals into the companies you’re interested in. Use your network to find a connection, ask for an introduction, and start a dialogue. Rather than applying for a job, have a conversation about the company’s needs and how someone with your background might be able to help. Become a real person rather than a piece of paper or collection of keywords. Chances are very good that you’ll be able to parlay many of those conversations into actual interviews for real jobs. Even if you don’t, you’ve built another strand in your web of connections that will ultimately lead you to your next job. And isn’t it more satisfying to have a colleague-to-colleague business discussion than to be judged (and rejected) based on a mysterious set of keyword qualifications? Thank you, Louise, for a real perspective and great advice!  There really is no way around doing some of the hard work in the job search! What Is an ATS Should You Care #jobsearch #resume For a few years the new buzz word in training for resume writers is how to write a resume to get through the ATS system. ATS is applicant tracking system, which is kind of like JibberJobber for the recruiter.  They arent tracking a relationship with YOU as much as they are tracking specific job openings, who applies, and who gets to have an interview with a human. I guess that is tracking you, kind of. But only as far as that specific opportunity goes.  There is no relationship nurturing going on its all about filling open jobs, and weeding out the high percentage of people who shouldnt have applied in the first place. You can imagine how resume writers want to write a resume that will get through the ATS, and eventually get to the live person.  I havent completely wrapped my brain around the technology, but Ive understood that most jobs people are hired for are with companies that are smaller, and might not even know what ATS means.  Ive focused my advice more on networking into a job than on monkeying around with your resume to get it better (which I call hiding from your job search, since you can do that for days and weeks and not really get any closer to getting an interview). But I keep my ears open to what the experts are saying, and am always looking for any information I can share with you.  When I saw this article on LinkedIn from Louise Kursmark, I knew it would have important information.  I think this is a super-important perspective because she is a well-known resume writer who has trained hundreds, maybe thousands, of resume writers.  Louise gave me permission to repost her article here (original post) I hope this helps you with your job search strategy today! ATS: I Couldnt Care Less ATS â€" Applicant Tracking Systems â€" cause a lot of twitter and chatter among job seekers and resume writers. I might even call it an obsession about finding the keywords, mimicking the job posting, and designing the document to get through the automated screener. Personally, I think that obsession is a distraction from the real work of job search. Even if your resume is a perfect match for the job posting, you have a very small chance of being chosen for an interview. That’s because your resume is one of dozens or even hundreds competing for just a handful of top slots. It’s likely at least a few other candidates will have qualifications that are slightly stronger or a background that’s just a bit closer to the ideal specified by the recruiter or employer. So it’s easy to spend a lot of fruitless time trying to rise to the top of a very large pool. And when you don’t, you feel frustrated, discouraged, maybe even depressed and angry. My advice: Have a keyword-rich, simply formatted resume that stands a reasonable chance of making it through the ATS. Then, spend less time applying to posted openings and more time getting referrals into the companies you’re interested in. Use your network to find a connection, ask for an introduction, and start a dialogue. Rather than applying for a job, have a conversation about the company’s needs and how someone with your background might be able to help. Become a real person rather than a piece of paper or collection of keywords. Chances are very good that you’ll be able to parlay many of those conversations into actual interviews for real jobs. Even if you don’t, you’ve built another strand in your web of connections that will ultimately lead you to your next job. And isn’t it more satisfying to have a colleague-to-colleague business discussion than to be judged (and rejected) based on a mysterious set of keyword qualifications? Thank you, Louise, for a real perspective and great advice!  There really is no way around doing some of the hard work in the job search! What Is an ATS Should You Care #jobsearch #resume For a few years the new buzz word in training for resume writers is how to write a resume to get through the ATS system. ATS is applicant tracking system, which is kind of like JibberJobber for the recruiter.  They arent tracking a relationship with YOU as much as they are tracking specific job openings, who applies, and who gets to have an interview with a human. I guess that is tracking you, kind of. But only as far as that specific opportunity goes.  There is no relationship nurturing going on its all about filling open jobs, and weeding out the high percentage of people who shouldnt have applied in the first place. You can imagine how resume writers want to write a resume that will get through the ATS, and eventually get to the live person.  I havent completely wrapped my brain around the technology, but Ive understood that most jobs people are hired for are with companies that are smaller, and might not even know what ATS means.  Ive focused my advice more on networking into a job than on monkeying around with your resume to get it better (which I call hiding from your job search, since you can do that for days and weeks and not really get any closer to getting an interview). But I keep my ears open to what the experts are saying, and am always looking for any information I can share with you.  When I saw this article on LinkedIn from Louise Kursmark, I knew it would have important information.  I think this is a super-important perspective because she is a well-known resume writer who has trained hundreds, maybe thousands, of resume writers.  Louise gave me permission to repost her article here (original post) I hope this helps you with your job search strategy today! ATS: I Couldnt Care Less ATS â€" Applicant Tracking Systems â€" cause a lot of twitter and chatter among job seekers and resume writers. I might even call it an obsession about finding the keywords, mimicking the job posting, and designing the document to get through the automated screener. Personally, I think that obsession is a distraction from the real work of job search. Even if your resume is a perfect match for the job posting, you have a very small chance of being chosen for an interview. That’s because your resume is one of dozens or even hundreds competing for just a handful of top slots. It’s likely at least a few other candidates will have qualifications that are slightly stronger or a background that’s just a bit closer to the ideal specified by the recruiter or employer. So it’s easy to spend a lot of fruitless time trying to rise to the top of a very large pool. And when you don’t, you feel frustrated, discouraged, maybe even depressed and angry. My advice: Have a keyword-rich, simply formatted resume that stands a reasonable chance of making it through the ATS. Then, spend less time applying to posted openings and more time getting referrals into the companies you’re interested in. Use your network to find a connection, ask for an introduction, and start a dialogue. Rather than applying for a job, have a conversation about the company’s needs and how someone with your background might be able to help. Become a real person rather than a piece of paper or collection of keywords. Chances are very good that you’ll be able to parlay many of those conversations into actual interviews for real jobs. Even if you don’t, you’ve built another strand in your web of connections that will ultimately lead you to your next job. And isn’t it more satisfying to have a colleague-to-colleague business discussion than to be judged (and rejected) based on a mysterious set of keyword qualifications? Thank you, Louise, for a real perspective and great advice!  There really is no way around doing some of the hard work in the job search!

7 Facts Recruiters Look for in Your CV

7 Facts Recruiters Look for in Your CV Most business decisions are based on hard cold facts, and hiring decisions are no different. If an organisation is going to invest time and money into employing you; they will need to see evidence that you can perform. By now we all know that clichés and buzzwords do nothing to impress recruiters, but many candidates still do not fully understand which facts are sought in a CV.  When writing your role descriptions in particular; you should put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes and think about the evidence you would require to make an informed hiring decision.  Including the following details in your CV’s role descriptions will provide clarity to recruiters and support the case for interviewing and eventually hiring you. 1. Your position in the hierarchy If a hiring manager is going to bring you on board, then it’s crucial for them to understand where they can place you within their team.  Whether you are sitting at the top of the pile and overseeing largescale operations; leading a small team or working independently with nobody under your management; you need to make your position clear.  Be sure to describe who you report to, whether you manage anybody and which people are dependent on you. 2. Who you interact with Human interaction plays a vital role in the running of any organisation, so hiring managers will need to be satisfied that you are comfortable dealing with people. Most jobs will require you to interact with a wide range of individuals, so your CV should demonstrate you are capable of this.  Show exactly who you interact with from customers and suppliers to management and external regulators; to prove your business-social abilities.  Evidence that you can build strong working relationships, and use them to create beneficial outcomes for your employers. 3. Technology expertise Technology is used in every line of work; from computer based tools like programming languages and accountancy software, through to hardware such as production machinery and vehicles.  Most roles will require some working knowledge of one or more tools, so employers will be keen to understand your ability to use their core systems and hardware.  So whether you’re an expert coder or a sports car technician, it’s essential to detail the tools you are able to use and how you apply them within your roles. 4. Work Produced The work that you produce will vary greatly depending on your industry.  It could be anything from Excel reports or website pages, to physical products like mobile phones or even buildings.  Whatever tangible work you produce within your own roles, include it within your CV and be clear on the volumes you have produced, quality of the work, and how valuable they are to your customers or internal dependents. 5. What your employer actually does This may seem obvious, but a surprisingly few candidates include a sufficient explanation of their employers.  Before you delve into the specifics of your roles, it’s important that the recruiter understands who you work for and what they do. Without building context around your role, it will be difficult for readers to fully understand your work.  However the level of detail you need to include will vary depending on the organisation. If you work for relatively small business, it’s less likely that recruiters will have heard of them; so you will need to provide a full explanation of the services they offer and markets they operate in.  However if you work for a household brand then you will need to place more focus on describing the department you work in, and how it’s function contributes to the success of the wider business. 6. The objective of your roles The most important aspect that recruiters will want to know about your previous jobs, is what were you hired to do?  It’s all well and good writing a detailed list of your daily activities, meetings and presentations; but without outlining the high level purpose of your role, nobody will understand what all your hard work was for.  Every role should start with a clear objective statement so that readers can comprehend the bigger picture of your duties. 7. Numbers Recruiters will look for numbers in your CV as a means of quantifying your value to an employer. Figures can provide strong evidence of the return on investment that an employer can expect after hiring you.  For example, if you can provide some statistics around revenue that you’ve generated for a firm, or the value of a project you have supported, they are a great way to demonstrate your value.  But the figures do not always have to be monetary; you can include figures such as; percentages of targets achieved or time taken to deliver a piece of work. By including some of the facts above in your own CV role descriptions, you will prove your worth to recruiters and greatly increase your chances of landing job interviews.

The Freelancers Resume - Creative Resume Template for Independent Workers

The Freelancers Resume - Creative Resume Template for Independent Workers The Freelancers Resume Creative Resume Template for Independent Workers Whether you are a web designer, a content writer, or a data scientist, marketing yourself to potential clients means providing your background and experience, as well as a portfolio of work projects   and client references.It is the rare freelancer who does not have a website for these latter purposes, but you also want a resume that captures who you are and your major achievements for a client to scan and be motivated to access your portfolio via a link you provided.   The Freelancer is the perfect template because it does not force you into a chronological listing of your work experience. Rather, it lets you provide a summary of the value you bring and to list your most successful projects that relate directly to client needs. And, depending on the type of freelance work you do, you can modify the Skills and Featured sections up to your needs with ease in MS Word.So wait no more, and grab this creative resume template for free! File size: 143 KB Format: .docx Downloaded 2,776 ti mes License: Free, personal use only. Please read the license terms for resources. Download previous article How to Write a Two Weeks Notice Letter (with Example) next article Resume Outline: Your Secret Weapon To Write Resumes 2X Faster you might also likeThe Personal Branding Creative Resume Template