You've done the foundational work of making sure you have everything in place to begin the job application process and have done some self-reflection on the skills you bring to the table. Now its time to start putting those pieces together and crafting a strong resume that is catered to your desired job. 

A good resume is no longer one that simply highlights your skills and experiences.  In today's increasingly demanding online application environment, its essential that you follow the right procedures to ensure that your resume not only gets noticed, but doesn't get weeded out by automated systems.  Read on to find tips for constructing your resume, how to avoid potential problems with AI application tracking systems, and access a couple different templates you can download for your own use.

General Tips for Building Your Resume

It might be tempting to dust off the old resume you've had lying around for the last few years, but creating a brand new document from scratch is an exercise well worth the work you'll put in.  Resumes are important for signaling important elements of employment history to potential employers, but they're also an opportunity for you to illustrate the skills you have and how you've put them to good use.

Follow these tips to ensure that your resume is easy to follow, relevant, and highlights the best of what you have to offer.

  • Organize previous work experience in order of relevance to the job you are applying for. 
  • Include key words from the job description. Job market websites use AI to sort applicants and using key words from the description allows your resume to pass through the barrier! 
  • Use more action verbs when describing experience to make the resume more engaging.
    • Examples of action verbs: appointed, coached, enforced, oversaw, recommended, shaped, strengthened, presided, instructed, furthered, lifted, maximized, raised, targeted, explored, planned, organized, reorganized, documented, briefed, controlled, empowered. 
  • Focus on highlighting your achievements rather than just listing job duties. 
  • Highlight skills where you have specific subject expertise and skills that demonstrate how well you work with others. 
  • Do not repeat skills
  • Spell check and proofread resume. 

Tips on AI Application Tracking Systems (ATS)

With the current rise in AI usage, employers have begun using application tracking systems (ATS) to sort through applicants. Unfortunately, an unintended consequence is that sometimes people's applications get weeded out due to minor issues in their materials that the ATS can't properly handle. 

Here are some things to keep in mind when applying for a job online to avoid getting accidentally disqualified!

  • Always use your full name because applications with nicknames can be disregarded. 
  • Resumes saved and submitted in a docx format versus a pdf format are more likely to pass through ATS.
  • Simplify information as much as possible. 
  • Use key words from the job description on your application and then apply those key terms to unique work experiences.  The ATS is designed to match terms on the job description to relevant applications, so using those key phrases in your resume will give you an edge and help ensure your application is noticed.

Bottom Line: As with any form of technology, AI application tracking systems can make mistakes and experience technical difficulties, so if you don’t hear back on job you think you are qualified for, reach out to the company directly to ensure a hiring manager saw your application. 

Consider Using a Template

Don't feel like you need to reinvent the wheel. When it comes to resumes, clarity, precision, and adhering to the best practices outlined above is worth far more than originality.  Take a look at the two templates we've developed and see if one will work for you!

Simple Resume Template: Option 1

Simple Resume Template: Option 2