Having a CV that stands out is essential to getting your ideal job in the highly competitive job market of today. Listing your credentials and experience is no longer sufficient, though. Making your resume visually appealing and informative is crucial, but so is optimising it to make sure it passes through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which are used by many organisations to review resumes.

With an emphasis on ATS optimisation and customisation, we will walk you through the process of creating a successful resume in this post. Additionally, we will expose you to several strong tools that can help you produce a resume that will stand out to the hiring manager and the system, such as Canva, Novoresume, and Zety.

Why ATS Optimization Is Crucial?

Prior to learning how to make your resume more ATS-friendly, it's critical to comprehend why this step is so significant. Recruiters use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to sort and rank applicants according to the content of their resumes. Although it helps businesses handle high application quantities, it also means that if your resume isn't optimised, it may be lost in the system and never get to a human recruiter.

Some Essential Tips For ATS Optimisation:

1. Make use of pertinent keywords ATS searches resumes for particular job-related keywords. The job description itself frequently contains these keywords, so carefully study it and use pertinent terminology throughout your CV. If the job description highlights "project management" or "data analysis," for example, ensure sure those terms are used on your CV (where applicable). Synonyms like "project coordination" and "data processing," which the ATS might not find relevant, should be avoided.
2. Pay Attention to Basic Formatting Tables, pictures, and columns are examples of sophisticated formatting that ATS systems may find difficult to interpret. Use classic typefaces like Arial or Times New Roman and maintain a simple, clean layout. Don't use unusual text sizes or gaudy styles. The ATS can simply process your information if it is in a simple, uncomplicated format.
3. Make Use of Common Headings ATS searches for common resume section headings such as "Education," "Experience," and "Skills." Steer clear of imaginative titles such as "My Journey" or "What I’ve Done." These can cause the ATS to become confused and miss crucial information. Make use of standard headings that the system will understand.
4. Make Your Contact Details Better Contact information in the header or footer may occasionally be difficult for ATS to read. Make sure your name, email address, phone number, and LinkedIn URL are at the top of the resume's main body to avoid this problem.
5. Provide Particular Job Titles Use job titles that correspond with industry norms when describing your employment experience. Because applicant tracking systems (ATS) are designed to look for typical job titles, using a unique or unusual term for your position may make it difficult for the system to accurately classify your experience. Consider "HR Manager" in instead of "Chief Happiness Officer," for instance, if the position is in human resources.

Customising Your Resume For Each Job

In order to make your CV stand out to recruiters and hiring managers, customisation is just as vital as ATS optimisation. You can emphasise the abilities, backgrounds, and credentials that are most pertinent to the particular position you're applying for by customising your resume.

How To Customize Your Resume Effectively?

1. Customise Your Goal Statement Tailor the objective or summary statement on your resume to the demands of the position and the business. A brief description of your background, skills, and reasons for being a good fit for the position should be included in this part. A customised goal shows that you are really interested in the job and have done your homework.
2. Highlight Experience That Is Relevant The positions and responsibilities that are most pertinent to the position you are applying for should be highlighted in your work experience section. Make sure that any technical abilities that are necessary for the job—such as Mastery of Python or Microsoft Excel—are clearly visible. For example, in the context of your prior positions, specifically state that you have experience analysing data using Excel.
3. Display Skills That Are Transferable Concentrate on transferable talents that are pertinent to the new profession if you're changing industries. For instance, communication, leadership, and project management abilities are useful in a variety of fields. Even if you lack specific experience in that industry, highlight how these abilities can help you succeed in the new position.
4. Make Use of Measurable Results Include measurable accomplishments that show your effect wherever you can. Rather than stating "Improved sales," for instance, use "Increased sales by 20% in the first quarter." Employers can better see your contributions when you include numbers on your CV.