CV Tips - How To Write A Competitive Resume In 2021
Posted 25th August 2021 • Written by Ashley Stahl on www.forbes.com • • • • •
Here is what you need to know about writing an effective resume.
What is an ATS?
The first thing to keep in mind about navigating resume-writing in 2021 is that before your resume ever gets in front of a recruiter or a hiring manager, you’re likely to have to pass through an ATS.
ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. An Applicant Tracking System is a software program utilized by hiring professionals to streamline the process of screening candidates.
But what does this mean for a candidate? Well, the most important feature of an ATS that job applicants must consider is the resume scanning tools. ATS systems are often the first stop for your application and resume. The ATS will scan your resume for relevant information, especially keywords, and determine whether or not to advance your application to the next phase.
All of this can happen before your resume ever makes it to a hiring manager, meaning before you can even be considered, you have to beat the algorithm.
Keywords are key: When it comes to ATS, keywords are the name of the game. ATS will usually compare your resume against a job description in order to determine how well you meet the criteria for certain positions. The Cultivate Culture study found that the average resume only utilized 51% of relevant keywords. Scan job descriptions to make sure that you are hitting keywords in the description in your resume.
Include your LinkedIn profile in your resume. Many people don’t think to include their LinkedIn profile link in their resume. In fact, only 48% of resumes reference a LinkedIn profile. Including your LinkedIn profile has been shown to boost your chances of landing an interview.
Don’t get too wordy. A lot of people exceed the ideal word length for their resume, which research shows to be between 475–600. Data shows that resumes over 600 words are 43% less hireable. And yet 77% of resumes are outside the ideal range. So, when it comes to word length, sometimes less is more.
Formatting and word choice matter. You may be tempted to show off your InDesign skills or your English-major vocabulary, but when it comes to creating a resume that will pass the ATS test, simplicity is your friend. Simple formatting and headers such as “skills” and “experience” will help to ensure that your resume is processed right.
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