The Job Front: Know the applicant tracking system

Every time you upload your résumé in response to a job posting, it will be run through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This technology searches for keywords, phrases, work experience and other essential information that must be present in your résumé to make it to the desk of the hiring manager.
Here are a few essential tips to ensure that your résumé does pass the ATS scan:
There is no standard ATS that all companies use. Although Taleo is the most widely used, there are many others. Be certain to carefully review the instructions for each résumé you post.
Most ATS will read Word files, some read PDFs, and all read text. My recommendation: PDF whenever possible, Word next, and text only if a must.
ATS searches for keywords that match the job description and requirements. The more keyword matches, the higher you score and the more likely your résumé will pass.
Use standard header names for each section to be certain all the information in that section is read. This includes Summary, Professional Work Experience, Education, Certifications and more.
Include standard contact information – name, phone and email – at the top of the résumé. Do not put it into a header since ATS cannot read headers or footers.
ATS cannot read images, tables or graphics. These additions can be great for human readers, so no need to delete them. ATS will simply ignore them as long as those elements do not touch any text.
Companies use ATS because of the overwhelming number of résumés they get in response to most job postings. The technology makes it easier and faster to identify quality candidates. Follow the above recommendations – and other information you read online – and improve your chances of passing ATS and landing an interview.

Wendy Enelow is co-author of “Modernize Your Résumé: Get Noticed ... Get Hired” and “Expert Résumés for Military-to-Civilian Transitions.”