How do you get your application past the digital recruiter?
More and more companies are having applications pre-screened by computer programs via online portals. If you don't convince the digital personnel officer with your resume, you won't make it to the interview. To prevent this from happening, candidates should heed the following advice. A checklist.
Yeng Chow, Senior Manager at Robert Half in Zurich, explains the digital trend: "More and more companies are using so-called Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Larger companies in particular use these software solutions to keep the number of manually processed application documents low and to shorten the hiring process.
ATSs use algorithms to scan applications for specific content or keywords and weed them out if there are discrepancies or no matches. However, with a few measures, candidates can optimize their resumes for the digital recruiter and improve their chances of making it to the next round. However: software can only recognize individuality to a limited extent: Personal contacts are therefore still important - especially personnel service providers with a good connection to recruiters can open paths to coveted positions."
"Beat the Robot" - three tips
1. choose a simple formatting for your online application
Resume scanners are not fans of creative layouts at all. Instead of giving the applicant credit for individuality, they have trouble reading the resume correctly. Instead of classifying the online application as creative, at worst it is immediately sorted out.
- Refrain from using extravagant elements such as logos or symbols in your resume.
- Do not choose fancy fonts in the online application. Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
- Use common headings for each section of the resume, such as education, work experience, or qualifications.
- Use commonly used terms. Unfamiliar terms make it difficult for the machines to correctly classify the data in the resume.
- Check exactly which file formats the ATS accepts and can read correctly. Adapt your online application accordingly.
2. use relevant keywords for the online application.
By using certain terms, you can convince the computer that you are one of the promising candidates. This does not include application phrases such as "resilient", "motivated" or "team player". Rather, they mean special key terms that are typical for the industry and profession!
- Use keywords from the job ad in the online application resume - only if you actually have them, of course.
- Do not try to use keywords as often as possible in your online application. After all, you also want to convince the recruiter afterwards. Incoherent formulations that merely contain as many keywords as possible are also usually sorted out.
3. avoid spelling mistakes
This rule applies to every application, of course. However, while a recruiter will forgive a single misspelling, in the worst case the machine cannot read the word. If it's one of the important key words, it's kind of like not having that skill at all. And that can cost you job opportunities.
- Take spell check seriously!
- Let the automatic spell checker of your word processor help you. It identifies most errors.
A tip on the side: In addition, give the application to a friend or acquaintance for proofreading.
