While the job search process can be stressful, tedious and overwhelming for jobseekers, it also requires significant time, effort and resources from employers. Drafting postings, reviewing resumes and scheduling interviews all take time and effort. Therefore, it is no wonder that many employers choose to streamline the process as much as possible through automation. . Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are often used to screen out unqualified candidates electronically, far before a hiring manager or HR department reviews an application. This means that it is possible for your application to be placed in the proverbial "No Pile" (even if you are qualified for the role), if your application does not meet the requirements as programmed into the system. . So how can you ensure that your application makes the cut, when you possess all the necessary qualifications for the role? . Our Tip: Make the Applicant Tracking System Work FOR You! . 1. Use Keywords:
Match the language used in the job posting to describe your experience, skills and qualifications within your application, on your resume and in your cover letter. An employer may be looking for someone with "Volunteer Management" experience, but you've listed it on your resume as "Volunteer Recruitment, Screening and Retention". While some systems and employers may refined enough to recognize those nuances, others may not. Pay attention to the language used and mimic it within your materials. BONUS TIP: If you're having a hard time describing your experience or identifying the skills you've developed, use O*NET or other employment sites to locate example verbiage. . 2. Relate Relevant Experience: Keywords alone are not enough to land you that interview. Listing education or hard and soft skills within your resume and cover letter won't mean as much to a hiring manager or HR professional if it is not clear where you've used or developed those skills. Therefore, you have to relate them to specific employment experiences. While there may be 10-12 tasks for which you were responsible within a particular position and another 3-4 accomplishments that you can link to that same position, highlighting the tasks and accomplishments that are relevant to the position for which you are applying will make you a much more competitive candidate. . 3. Include Skills: A "Relevant Skills" section on your resume is a helpful place to summarize some of the most relevant hard and soft skills listed in the posting...as long as they are an honest representation of who you are...AND they can clearly be connected with your experience. Listing years of experience for skills required for a particular posting can also be helpful (i.e. 3+ Years Project Management). . 4. Draft a Career Summary: Including a "Career Summary" on your resume is a great way to briefly summarize relevant qualifications that are outlined in greater detail throughout the rest of your resume. Think of each keyword as another point in your qualification score! The more references you have to those skills and experiences, the more likely you are to make it to the next step! . 5. Keep it Simple: Use common and understandable language. Avoid abbreviations and overly complex formatting. In fact, avoid templates altogether! They do not often make good use of space within your resume and can reformat awkwardly when opened in different programs. . 6. Verify File Type: Applicant Tracking Systems may be unable to read certain file types. Meaning, after you've gone through all the effort to personalize your resume and cover letter to a particular position, the format of your document (i.e. PDF, JPG, etc.) may be unreadable by the system for which you've personalized it! Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the options listed within the posting for compatibility (i.e. Word, PDF, etc.) before sending or uploading resumes and cover letters. . The qualifications and therefore, the keywords for different positions may vary from position to position and from one employer to the next. Therefore, it's best to tailor each resume and cover letter to the specific position for which you are applying. . Remember, if you can't make it through the electronic screening process, you won't have the opportunity to prove that you are right for the job! So do your homework on the frontend and reap the rewards with an interview and a job offer! #CareerTipTuesday #ClothingConfidenceCareer #ResumeTips #CoverLetterTips
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Well Suited for WorkEstablished in 2020 as a ministry of Cross & Crown Lutheran Church, Well Suited for Work aims to tackle the challenges of poverty in our local community ... ONE SUIT AT A TIME! Archives
November 2021
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