How to Format a Resume for an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
For the heading, Enter in your name and the targeted job title., Remove any unique headings., Don't add any fancy editing tricks., Remove any special characters or fancy bullets., Stick with the basics., Make sure the paper or background is white...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: For the heading
if the position has an identification number, add it as well.
For example:
Your Name
- Executive Director (#1234AB56) -
Step 2: Enter in your name and the targeted job title.
Stick with the more conventional ones.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) are three that you should definitely use.
Others are Summary, Work Experience, and Education. , Just remember, if it doesn't show up in a text file, then you don't need it.
Things like, columns, tables, text boxes, and other formatting help that a regular word processor can insert into the document. , They will just confuse the system. , Don't use any of the fancier fonts.
Some good ones to use are Arial, Georgia, Impact, Courier, Lucinda, Tahoma or Trebuchet. ,, It can affect the legibility of letters that drop down, like g, j, y, p, etc. , Once you have checked it, have a couple of friends proof it.
Maybe even a frenemy or two. ,,, They tend to have all kinds of markup behind the scenes that you can't see, but the ATS can. ,, Be sure to list it in reverse chronological order.
Last job first.
When writing your employment history, present the information for each employer in the same order, i.e., company name, title, city, state, and date, and in reverse chronological order. -
Step 3: Remove any unique headings.
-
Step 4: Don't add any fancy editing tricks.
-
Step 5: Remove any special characters or fancy bullets.
-
Step 6: Stick with the basics.
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Step 7: Make sure the paper or background is white and the print is black.
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Step 8: Don't underline words.
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Step 9: Check your resume for spelling errors.
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Step 10: Put in the contact information in the body of your resume
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Step 11: not the header or footer.
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Step 12: While you may save it in your current version of Windows
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Step 13: also make sure to save it in a *.doc or *.txt format
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Step 14: as well.
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Step 15: Don't use templates.
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Step 16: Don't use page numbers.
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Step 17: Write your employment history in the same format.
Detailed Guide
if the position has an identification number, add it as well.
For example:
Your Name
- Executive Director (#1234AB56)
Stick with the more conventional ones.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) are three that you should definitely use.
Others are Summary, Work Experience, and Education. , Just remember, if it doesn't show up in a text file, then you don't need it.
Things like, columns, tables, text boxes, and other formatting help that a regular word processor can insert into the document. , They will just confuse the system. , Don't use any of the fancier fonts.
Some good ones to use are Arial, Georgia, Impact, Courier, Lucinda, Tahoma or Trebuchet. ,, It can affect the legibility of letters that drop down, like g, j, y, p, etc. , Once you have checked it, have a couple of friends proof it.
Maybe even a frenemy or two. ,,, They tend to have all kinds of markup behind the scenes that you can't see, but the ATS can. ,, Be sure to list it in reverse chronological order.
Last job first.
When writing your employment history, present the information for each employer in the same order, i.e., company name, title, city, state, and date, and in reverse chronological order.
About the Author
Sharon Taylor
Writer and educator with a focus on practical hobbies knowledge.
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