Dont Make These ATS Formatting Mistakes

Dont Make These ATS Formatting Mistakes Dont Make These ATS Formatting Mistakes To understand why resume formatting matters to applicant tracking systems, you first need to understand how resumes move through ATS. Heres how it works After you submit yur resume through an online application, it automatically lands in the ATS. Many systems then scan your resume, parse or pull out information, and rearrange your resume into a digital candidate profile. From there, recruiters or hiring managers can search the ATS by keyword and get a list of resumes that best match their search.Learn moreTop 500 Resume Keywords to Boost Your Job SearchBut, ATS arent perfect (we already knew that) They are known for missing important information if the formatting isnt to their liking. At Jobscan, weve done scrupulous testing on top ATS to make our tools as effective as possible. Heres some of what weve learned.Abbreviations and Acronymsfruchtwein ATS (iCIMS, Bullhorn and Greenhouse included) arent program med to recognize abbreviations like MBA, CPA and PMP if a recruiter searches for the long form of the keyword (e.g. Master of Business Administration, Certified Public Accountant, Project Management Professional). Dont fear This is an easy one to fix. Spell out the keyword then use the common acronym in parenbehauptungs to make sure your credentials dont get missed. Now youll come up as a search result no matter which version they search for.TablesSome ATS, including Jobvite, have a difficult time parsing information within tables. Sections in tables can get jumbled together or information can be lost entirely.While removing the lines can help (we found this to be true with iCIMS), its a good idea to skip tables if youre applying through an ATS. That way, you know they wont affect your chances of getting leidiced by the hiring manager. I suggest opting for standard bullet points to best organize information.Non-Standard Bullet PointsI often have job seekers ask if bullet points are okay for a resume being submitted through ATS. Yes In fact, standard bullet points are a great way to organize information on your ATS resume. However, the non-traditional bullet points like stars, diamonds, and check-boxes do not always get parsed correctly. The quick fix? Use the good ol black dot bullet points (like in the example below) to avoid issues.Standard bullet points like these are great for an ATS-optimized resume. (Source Application Careers)Unique FontOf course, you want your resume to stand out from the crowd, but using a unique font will just work against you.Through our testing, weve found Times New Roman and Arial to be the most reliable for getting past ATS. Cambria, Georgia, Calibri and Verdana are also appropriate. Font size doesnt matter quite as much, but we suggest sticking to 10 or 12 point font to make your resume look professional when it lands in the hands of the hiring manager. Check out the list of ATS-approved resume fonts below.Learn More The Best Fo nts to Make Your Resume ATS and Recruiter-FriendlyLet your killer experience set you apart instead of an attention-grabbing font, and use the interview to show off your personality.Incorrect Date FormattingSome of the major ATS, like Jobvite and Taleo, most accurately parse dates in the format of MM/YYYY. For example, 03/2011. Most ATS will also accept the format of March 2011. Always use both the month and year. Only using a year can cause confusion. For example, the ATS iCIMS automatically assigns a start date of January 1st to any work experience that only has a year.Extra Spacing Between WordsATS are picky about keywordsreally picky. A few of the top ATS, including Bullhorn and Greenhouse, will not even recognize multi-word keywords if the words are separated by extra spaces. For example, product marketing will be recognized as a complete skill but product marketing will not because there is an extra space hiding between the words. The solution is simple double and triple check your spacing, especially between multi-word keywords, before submitting.Unprofessional File NameJoeSmithGoogle.docx is a great file name, unless he accidentally sent it to Amazon. A few applicant tracking systems, like USAJobs and Greenhouse, include the file name in their portal, which means the hiring manager at Amazon will not be too pleased with Joe SmithWhile many ATS have stopped making file name visible to hiring managers, some still do. For professionalism sake, its good practice to save each file with your first and last name (e.g. joejobscan.docx). Test your resumes ATS formattingWant to find out how your resume stacks up to ATS? Upload your resume to Jobscan or paste it below to get customized formatting tips and more.Every ATS is differentAt Jobscan, we built our resume optimization tool based on the most common behaviors found across popular ATS. But every system works a little bit differently. Thats why we offer customized ATS tips based on the company youre applying t o. Learn more with this video

8 Career Trends for 2016

8 Career Trends for 2016 8 Career Trends for 2016 With the New Year here in full force, many employees are setting their sights on new goals, new jobs, and new careers.One question I keep hearing is Whats new in 2016?Let me answer that with a quick rundown of eight important career trends well see in 20161. Multiple CareersIts becoming mora and mora common (and acceptable) for employees to switch jobs every 3-5years. In fact, its almost expected. In the past, this was frowned upon by many, but in 2016, it will be more the norm than ever before.2. Boomerang WorkersWith the morepeople switching jobs more frequently, this was bound to happen. Its more and more typical to see an employee leave a company and be rehired a few years later. And why not? The employee gains valuable experience and can negotiate a higher salary upon return. Its a win-win, as the organization gets someone who already has knowledge about and experience with the company.3. Work/Life BalanceAs more millennials jo in the workforce, the focus on work/life balance is increasing. Millennials want to do meaningful work and they want to have personal lives, too. They arent lured in by big paychecksif that means theyll lose all of their personal time.4. New Work PerksIn an effort to hit home with younger workers, more companies are beginning to offer creative perks, including student loan repayment, fertility and adoption assistance, flexible work hours, and remote work arrangements. Theyre also offering more onsite perks like free lunches, laundry, and childcare.5.Better Maternity LeaveTheres also been a big push to give workersmore maternity and paternity leave and to give them more options in this realm, too. Some companies are allowing employees to work less hours after a child is born without quitting altogether. Others are adding the option for dads to also take time off alongside moms.6.Contract WorkersIn the past, consultants were reserved for large corporations. They would hire consultin g firms that smaller businesses could not typically afford. Today, more individuals have become independent consultants. Some were forced into those roles after a layoff, while others chose to leave the corporate world to gain control and fulfillment. The influx of these specialized workers into the workforce has made it possible for businesses of all sizes to take advantage of consultant services.7. More Promotions There are 3.6 million baby boomers slated to retire in 2016. Many of them are in management roles, and when they go, someone will have to fill those spaces. Younger employees will finally begin to feel upward movement Because so many baby boomers are leaving the workforce, roughly 25 percent of millennial workers will become managers this year.8. More MovementMany people have been sticking it out in jobs they dont like for years. The rising number ofavailable opportunities will create increased movement. Many of those whove been waiting to make a move will find 2016 to b e the right time to do so.-As with all things, these trends vary by region, by organization, and sometimes even by seniority level. Do your own research on company websites and job searching sites to find out who is offering which benefits and perks. Glassdoor.com has valuable information on both benefits and company cultures.Good luck with your career in 2016A version of this article originally appeared at MemphisDailyNews.com.

Communications and Media Careers

Communications and Media CareersCommunications and Media CareersCommunications and media careers involve disseminating information, in a variety of forms, to the public. They include the spoken and written word, and even sound and pictures. Educational requirements vary, but a college degree can increase your chances of getting a job in most occupations in this field. Lets take a look at seven communications and media careers. See how much you can expect to earn and what the job outlook is. Broadcast Technician Broadcast technicians bring us live broadcasts of television and radio shows, concerts, and nachrichten reports. They set up, operate, and maintain the equipment that regulates signal strength, clarity, and range of sounds and colors. If you want to work in this field, you will need anassociate degree in broadcast technology, electronics, or computer networking. Hands-on training is essential. Broadcast technicians earned a median annual salary of $37,490 in 2015. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts employment will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations from 2014 to 2024, but there will be substantial competition for jobs since this field employs relatively few people. News Anchor News anchors present, and often analyze, reports on television news broadcasts. They introduce stories from reporters out in the field and sometimes go to various locations themselves. News anchors often have a social media presence. You will have to earn a bachelors degrees in journalism or mass communications, but some employers will consider hiring job candidates who have majored in other subjects. Most likely, you will begin your tv news career as a reporter. In 2015, news anchors earned a median annual salary of $65,530. A decline in employment is expected between 2014 and 2024, according to BLS predictions. Photographer Using pictures to tell stories, photographers capture images of people, places, events and objects digitally or on film. Most specialize in a particular type of photography, for example, photojournalism, or portrait, commercial, entertainment, or scientific photography. You may need a bachelors degree, depending on the type of photography you want to do. Typically, photojournalists and commercial and scientific photographers must go to college. Technical proficiency may suffice for other areas. Photographers earned a median annual salary of $31,710 in 2015, but earnings varied by specialty. The BLS predicts employment will grow more slowly than the average for all occupations between 2014 and 2024. Public Relations Specialist Public relations specialists, also called communications or media specialists, relay information from companies, organizations or governments to the public. They often use the media to spread their messages. Although there are no voreingestellt educational requirements to work as a public relations specialist, many employers prefer to hire job candidates who have a c ollege degree and some experience, usually obtained from doing an internship. You should consider majoring in public relations, journalism, communications, and advertising in college. In 2015, public relations specialists earned a median annual salary of $56,770. Employment in this field is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupationsthrough 2024, according to BLS predictions. Reporter Reporters investigate news stories and then deliver reports of what they find, either in writing or on television or radio, to the public. A reporter first gets a tip about a story and then tries to get all the facts about it by interviewing people, observing events,and doing research. Most employers prefer to hire reporters who have a bachelors degree in journalism or mass communications. Others are willing to hire job candidates who have other degrees. Reporters earned a median annual salary of $36,360 in 2015. The BLS predicts a decline in employment between 2014 and 2024. Translator or Interpreter Translators convert written words from one language to another while interpreters do the saatkorn with spoken words. Some people do both, but most specialize in one area. Many employers hire job candidates who have earned a bachelors degree. To work as a translator or interpreter, you must be fluent in two languages, but majoring in one in college isnt a requirement. In addition to your language skills, you should have knowledge about the culture and subject matter. In 2015, translators and interpreters earned a median annual salary of $44,190. According to BLS predictions, employment will grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2024. Writers and Editors Writers and editors bring us the content that appears in print and online media. Writers create the material and editors evaluate it and select the content topublish. Although a college degree isnt required, many employers prefer to hire writers and editors who haveone, general ly in communications, English, or journalism. A liberal arts degree may also be acceptable. If you specialize in a particular subject area, you may need a degree in it. This applies in particular to technical writers. Writers and authors earned a median annual salary of $60,250 in 2015, while technical writers earned $70,240. Editors median annual earnings were $56,010. Employment growth for writers and authors is expected to be slower than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS. Technical writers, by contrast, will experience faster than average growth. Employment of editors will decline. Explore more Careers By Field or Industry Comparing Communications Careers Minimum EducationMedian SalaryBroadcast TechnicianAssociate degree$ 37,490News AnchorBachelors degree$65,530PhotographerBachelors for many full-time jobs$31,710Public Relations SpecialistNone required but college degree preferred$56,770ReporterBachelors degree$36,360Translator Or InterpreterBachelors degr ee$44,190Writers and EditorsNone required but bachelors degree preferred$60,250 (Writers and Authors)$70,240 (Technical Writers)$56,010 (Editors) SourcesBureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, on the Internet athttps//www.bls.gov/ooh/andEmployment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, on the Internet athttps//www.onetonline.org/(visited March 19, 2017).