Once you submit your job application, are you not on the shortlist? Does this occur each and every time you apply for a job? Then, your resume appears to be the issue. A resume is much more to an employer than just your personal information. The key to accessing the subsequent rounds of the interview process is your resume, or CV. If you were turned down at the initial process, then how could you get a chance to crack the interview? An ATS Friendly Resume is the answer to all your questions. In this blog, we will discuss Why is Your CV being rejected and how to Create a Perfect Resume.
A resume must be strong and precise. It should highlight your abilities and how you can succeed in the position. You should be aware of the requirements to write a strong resume.
How Your CV is Rejected?
The most common reason behind this is that many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Your resume may have a greater chance of being rejected if it does not follow the ATS CV Template.
What is ATS?
Application tracking system is referred to as ATS. ATS automates the process of tracking, evaluating, and choosing job candidates. This computer software can help employers save both money and time. After you submit your resume, where does it go? Most individuals don’t think about it when they ask this question. Most of the time, it enters an ATS database directly. After that, the ATS looks for particular keywords on your CV and evaluates your suitability for the position.
Technology is transforming every aspect of our lives, and applying for jobs is no different. Because of this, maintaining your competitiveness in the modern job market requires that you adhere to an ATS Friendly Resume Template.
Reasons Why Your CV is getting rejected
1. Making Grammatical or Formatting Errors
Check your resume carefully for spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes before sending it to potential employers. Providing employers with a well formatted resume demonstrates professionalism and makes a good first impression. You can proofread your resume with the use of online tools or word processing software. Asking a friend or family member to review your CV can also be beneficial as they may catch mistakes that you missed. Similarly, ensure that your resume is formatted logically, with readable fonts and plenty of white space. Arial, Georgia, and Times New Roman are a few popular resume fonts. To make sure your resume highlights your talents and qualifications, stay away from utilizing vivid colors or images.
2. Your Resume is Very Generic
It’s important for job seekers to realize that recruiters review hundreds of resumes every day. The resume screener will never be interested in a resume that adheres to a generic content pattern or template. Your resume must stand out from the others in order to be taken notice of during the initial screening session. Error-free writing that is concise, clear, and instructive is required. You can get advice from a qualified writer on how to make your resume stand out.
3. Creating a short or lengthy resume
Companies frequently assess applicants quickly, thus a long CV might discourage them from looking through your application. Your resume should not exceed one page in order to showcase the most significant aspects of your expertise and qualifications. You can expand your qualifications on a second page of your resume if you have more than ten years of relevant work experience.
Employers can also believe that applicants with resumes shorter than one page don’t have enough experience for the job. If you are a recent graduate or have little work experience, you might want to include information about your extracurricular activities, volunteer work, internships, and schooling. Tell us how those experiences helped you get ready for this new role.
4. Lack of relevant experience or skills
Your CV might not be shortlisted if it doesn’t show that you have the experience or qualifications required for the role. In your CV, be sure to emphasize your crucial experiences and talents.
Add relevant skills to your Resume:
Hiring managers do more than just fill in job names when looking for prospects. They also add specific terms linked to their skill. Once more, these terms are present in the job description. Make a note of the abilities that come up most frequently as you read (keywords can be single words or sentences). Then, if applicable, include these keyword abilities on your resume.
For instance, the job description below frequently uses the term “marketing.” Since hiring managers are likely to search for it, it goes without saying that you should include this keyword in your resume. When drafting your CV, stick to the same terminology that the recruiting manager used to describe the position. Do not stuff the keywords. Use them in a way that seems as natural as possible. Overuse of keywords may give the impression that you’re trying to manipulate the system to a hiring manager. Additionally, if your resume has too many keywords, the ATS may find it difficult to read and understand it, which disqualifies it from being classified as an ATS Friendly Resume Template.
5. Poor formatting or layout
Hiring managers may find it difficult to analyze a resume that is badly structured or difficult to read, which could result in your resume being overlooked. Make sure your resume is readable, visually appealing, and well-organized.
The majority of the formatting on your resume is removed when it is uploaded into an ATS database. This facilitates the ATS’s analysis and parsing of the plain text.
Avoid these common formatting mistakes While formatting:
- Headers and footers are not necessary. These may make it more challenging for the ATS to accurately understand your data.
- Use of unique symbols, images, or graphics is NOT advised. Once more, make it simple to avoid confusing the ATS.
- Don’t go too elaborate or imaginative with your section headings. To avoid confusing the ATS, utilize conventional titles like “Work Experience” or “Education.”
And that’s it! If you follow these instructions, you should have an ATS Friendly Resume that a hiring manager will be more likely to see and take from the ATS database.
6. Lack of keywords
Automated resume screening systems are widely used by businesses, and these systems may employ keywords to find qualified applicants. Your resume might not make the short list if it doesn’t contain the relevant keywords. Make sure your resume contains crucial keywords, such as the particular technology or talents you have worked with. That being said, your resume’s keywords ought to be precisely the words that employers are looking for. For instance, your resume would be scanned to check if you have used the phrase “attention to detail,” which is required for the position you are applying for.
Consider the terms and phrases they would prefer to see on your resume, then include them. Make your CV more appealing by using those exact terms to pique their interest and make them want to work with you. Don’t forget to incorporate acronym and long-form variations of your keywords. For instance, you should add both “customer relationship management” and “CRM” if you have experience with customer relationship management software. You’ll maximize your chances of having your resume seen if you include both versions of essential phrases.
Lastly, always make sure your CV is customized for the job you are going for. Although it requires some time and work, doing this can improve your chances of being contacted for a follow-up interview.
7. Lack of focus or direction
Your CV might not be shortlisted if it is ambiguous or fails to express your ambitions and career direction clearly. Make sure to specify your career goals in detail and concentrate on the particular abilities and experiences that are pertinent to the job for which you are seeking.
Find the Job title and put it in your resume headline:
Your name and contact details are the first three items on your resume, followed by your resume headline. The title serves to highlight your value proposition as a job applicant. Your title needs to be brief, interesting, and relevant to the position for which you are applying.
Examples:
“Results-Oriented Business Analyst with 7 Years of Experience”
“Finance Manager with ten years of banking industry experience”
“Professional in Human Resources with Five Years of Experience in Hiring and Employee Relations”
Choose an ATS Friendly Resume Template
It’s critical that your resume contain pertinent keywords. It’s crucial to style your resume, though, so an applicant tracking system can read it. Excellent job seekers send in resumes that the applicant tracking system cannot read. Rejection follows from this.
Luckily, the most popular resume template is also the one that gets utilized the most. The chronological format is as follows. Your employment experience is listed in reverse chronological order in this style. Put otherwise, your most recent position need to come up first.
Include the following information for each job:
- Company name and location
- Job title
- Start and end dates
- Achievements and responsibilities
Make Your Resume Easy to Scan
To make it simpler for computers and people to read your resume, adhere to the guidelines of ATS Resume:
Resume formatting tips:
- To make your data easy to understand by both humans and ATS, use plain, basic language.
- To look professional, choose a font that is widely used, such as Helvetica, Garamond, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Arial.
- Use 11–12 point font size for ordinary text and 14–16 point font size for section titles.
- To prevent overcrowding, your resume should have margins on both sides of approximately one inch.
- One of two formats should be used for dates: MM/YYYY or “March 2022.” Don’t just use the year.
- You can use bullets (but only the usual bullet circle or square), bold, italics, and underlining. Use a Word document or PDF so the ATS can simply scan it and turn it into an ATS resume.
- Proofread your resume every time.
- Always proofread your resume thoroughly; even one mistake could cause it to be rejected.
How to Know if yours is ATS Friendly Resume?
- Using a resume scanner is the ideal option if you already have a resume and want to see if it follows ATS Resume Template.
- The resume scanner compares your resume to a job description using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. After that, you get a score indicating how well your resume fits the job specifications.
- Additionally, you will be instructed on how to raise your score. By adding abilities and resolving formatting issues, you can achieve this. Your chances of landing an interview are better the higher your score is.
NOTE: Add skills only when you truly possess them. Avoid portraying oneself falsely!
Creating an ATS Friendly Resume is crucial in navigating today’s competitive job market. By adhering to ATS templates during resume creation, you increase the likelihood of passing the initial scanning process. Swiftly aligning your resume with ATS not only enhances its readability but also amplifies your chances of securing high-paying positions with your dream companies. So, don’t delay—optimise your resume ATS Friendly, and pave the way to fulfilling career opportunities!
