Beat the ATS!

⚒️ Beat the ATS System

⛔ Don’t Get Fancy:
❌ A PDF file is not the most ATS friendly file type (unless otherwise specified)
❌ Avoid graphics and images
❌ Avoid any lines, underlines and tables
❌ Say no to fancy font, italics or quotations
❌ Headers and footers must go

💯 Keep It Simple:
✅ Use Standard resume format
✅ Use Standard font
✅ Align text to the left
✅ Set 1-inch margins
✅ Use customized keywords in the skills section and work experience
✅ Use standard section headings (Education, Contact Information, Skills, Work Experience)
✅ Full Acronyms and titles
✅ Circular shaped bullet points
✅ Proofread (check for spellings and grammar)
✅ Save as .docx

📶 ATS is here to stay
ATS is the NOW! However much we may dislike the idea of an automated system scanning and filtering our resumes, we have to accept the fact that ATS is here to stay. There could be flaws, there could be technical issues, there could be drawbacks - we just can’t complain about it!

✳️✳️✳️ Follow Kirsty Bonner and register for free on her website www.kirstybonner.com. You will find samples of Cover Letters and ATS resumes. Good luck to everyone!

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The Workings of an ATS

🤔 How does ATS work?

♻️ The ATS collects and stores resumes in a database.
♻️ These are stored for as long as 12 months, until they are marked inactive.

❇️ The system tracks candidates and organizes information about them. This information is used to manage the entire hiring process including screen candidates and schedule interviews.

✅ Some recruiters still prefer to take a quick glance to learn more about the applicant's highlights. So ensure your top skills and qualifications are quick to identify.

✳️ ATS automatically compares a resume to the job description and ranks each applicant based on how well their resume scores compared to the job description.

💠 Recruiters usually filter resumes by searching for key skills or titles.

▶️ For example, if a recruiter is hiring for an Administrative Assistant position out of 100 resumes, the first step would probably be to search the ATS for an Administrative Assistant. The system will scan through and isolate the top candidate matches who have done the exact same job before. Anyone besides that is out of luck.

👍🏻 Use www.jobscan.co to analyze your resume against the job description to show the top skills and keywords that are missing from your resume.

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What is ATS?

❓ What is ATS?

👉🏻 ATS is Applicant Tracking System.

▶️ It is a recruitment software that provides hiring tools for recruiters and companies to process job applications, as they are received.

▶️ When you apply for a job online, the first contact your application has is, with the ATS.


❓ Why do employers and companies use ATS?
▶️ Big companies hire for several jobs at a time and receive thousands of applications.

▶️ Just because applying online for a job is easier, there are many applicants who tend to be unqualified for the job opening - and that's where ATS keeps all these resumes in place, helping recruiters and hiring managers to stay organized.

▶️ The crux of the matter is, these systems help recruiters to save time by automatically screening and highlighting top candidates. But in reality, there can be situations where top candidates can slip through.

↪️ Join me tomorrow to find out How does ATS work?

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What To Include in a CV?

❓ What does a good CV include?

➕ Using action words like “created”, “analysed” or “managed”.
➕ No spelling or grammar mistakes.
➕ Tailor your CV towards the role and the employer
➕ Your email address should be professional

✖️ Do not lie or exaggerate in your CV or job application
✖️ Do not use the word Curriculum Vitae at the top of the page.

✔️ Remember to include a cover letter unless the employer states otherwise.

Listen to the video for more insightful information on What to include in a CV? 👇🏻👇🏻

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What Is a CV?

🤔🤔 Did you know….

↔️ Difference between a CV and a Resume

✍🏻 A curriculum vitae (CV) is a summary of your experience and skills and runs into at least two or three pages. A CV summary is a way to quickly and concisely convey one’s skills and qualifications. (For experienced personnel, jobseekers)

✍🏻 A resume provides a summary of your education, work history, credentials, and other accomplishments and skills. A resume should be as concise as possible and should typically be one page long. (For graduates, freshers)

Listen to the video below for more insightful information.
It is definitely worth the watch.
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

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Cover Letter Tips

🤔 What is a Cover Letter?

👉🏻 It is a single-page letter that you include with your job application.
👉🏻 It is a short summary of your resume.
👉🏻 It is not mandatory to include a cover letter with your job application.
👉🏻 But it does hold value if you do so unless of course, the job advertisement states not to.

✍🏻 Purpose
♐ Introduce yourself
♐ Mention the job you are applying for
♐ Show that your skills and experience match the job requirements.
♐ Encourage the reader to read your resume
♐ End with a call for action (request for a meeting or interview)

❌ Do not address your letter, “To Whom It May Concern”
❗ Read the job description carefully. Find out more about the job
❗ Look for information online and find out more about the company.

❓ What to include:
✅ Your name and contact details
✅ The company’s name and contact details
✅ The name of the job you are applying for
✅ A list of your relevant skills
✅ A short summary of why you are the ONE for the job
✅ Ask them to contact you

⛔ What not to include:
❎ Typing errors or mistakes
❎ Your resume
❎ Do not overuse the word “I”
❎ Don’t mention other job applications

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Top 10 Tips For Interviews

“Job interviews are like first dates. Good impressions count. Awkwardness can occur. Outcomes are unpredictable.”

Top 10 TIPS for Interviews

👉🏻 Research the company and the interviewers (if known)

👉🏻 Practice answers to common interview questions

👉🏻 Read the job description over and over again

👉🏻 Use the STAR method in answering skill based questions

👉🏻 Find a friend to practice answering these questions

👉🏻 Dress smart, look sharp and don't show up empty handed

👉🏻 Make a first great impression and project enthusiasm

👉🏻 Listen carefully, pause to think and answer truthfully, with authenticity and positively

👉🏻 Keep your answers concise and focussed

👉🏻 Ask questions and end on the right note

Don’t forget to follow up

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