Applicant tracking systems.
WHAT THEY DO
Store applications, and help recruiters filter them.
WHAT THAT MEANS PRACTICALLY
Your document is parsed, and searched against terms.
WHAT PARSES BADLY
Complex layouts Tables and columns Text inside images Unusual fonts Headers and footers containing important information
WHAT TO USE
A simple single-column layout.
WHY
It parses reliably, and it reads well.
WHAT TO INCLUDE
The actual words from the job description, where they are true of you.
WHY THAT MATTERS
Searches use those terms.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Stuff keywords Include invisible text
WHY
It is detected, and it is disqualifying.
WHAT TO NAME THE FILE
Your name and the role.
WHY
It is what a human sees in a folder.
WHAT TO CHECK
That your document reads correctly as plain text.
HOW
Copy it into a plain editor and read it.
WHAT TO AVOID
Applying through several routes simultaneously Applying repeatedly to the same role
WHAT MATTERS MORE THAN ANY OF THIS
A referral, which bypasses screening entirely.
WHY
Referred applications are read by a person.
