A frequently discussed resume question between resume writers, recruiters, and applicants is the question of the influence of Applicant Tracking Systems (“ATS") on the appropriate length of a resume.
Back in ancient history (anyone remember the 90s?), the vast majority of resumes were submitted on paper via snail mail and/or fax. Pre-screening of resumes those days was performed by a real human being that physically touched, handled, and actually “scanned" the documents with his/her eyes.
That meant a lot of work for HR. Just imagine having to sift through 200 or 300 applications. The rule of thumb in those days for job hunters was thus to not “aggravate" or “bother" the pre-screening human being with overly long resumes that might have meant a quick toss to the “no" pile. As a consequence, job hunters were advised to limit their resumes to one or two pages.
The Influence Of The ATS
Today, HR does not have to bother with manually screening of the first round of resumes. That job is done for 80% of all open positions by ATS software.
But what does that mean for you job hunters? Does the old rule of thumb to limit your resume to one or two pages still apply?
As far as the ATS is concerned, the answer is easy: it does not. ATS does not generally get aggravated because a resume might seem long. Quite the contrary, recent industry studies suggest that longer resumes tend to perform better in ATS rankings. Why? Because it is easier to reach the required keyword density with a longer document.
But be aware: just because you decide to submit your long resume version that includes any certification and internship you ever did 15 or 20 years ago, does not equate to a better ATS ranking. No, ATS are smart enough to scan and rank the density of content relevant keywords. So, more does not necessarily mean better.
The Process Is Twofold
You should also bear in mind that passing the ATS is only the first step in the process of netting an interview. After the ATS have filtered down the amount of applicants to maybe 10 or 20, an actual person will start reading these resumes. And that actual person might not be too amused to see that your document takes more than twice the time to read than some of the other resumes.
And bam – your resume goes straight to the “no" pile (just like in the 90s; just at a later stage).
And that's where I usually leave the discussion to the academics about what the adequate resume length might be is in this time of ATS. They will be discussing it over and over with no “right" or “wrong" solution. No benefit for you as the job hunter.
The real important take-away for you as the job hunter here is: your resume has to equally please the computer and the human eye.
Consequence
As the job hunter, you have to please the ATS first. So, if you have enough relevant (!) content then don't feel bound to leave information off just to keep your resume to two pages. However, bear in mind that this does not give you a free ticket to ramble on and on just because the computer does not care. You still want to please the human reader as well.
So, two or three pages? Whatever you feel better suits the needs of the ATS AND the human reader.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert.
The leaves are changing, the kids are back in school, and that familiar chill is in the air. You think it's the perfect time to look for a job, and it is! But are your job search fears preventing you from making that leap?
It's not uncommon to feel lost when embarking on your job search journey. After all, school teaches us everything except how to get a job. What should you put on your resume? What questions should you ask in an interview? How can you stand out in the hiring process when there's so much competition?
Are you feeling spooked yet?
Believe it or not, there's no need to be afraid of the job search process! You can land your dream job with the right tools and strategy. You can find a job that won't give you nightmares. Here are three spooky secrets every job seeker should know as they look for a job this fall.
1. An Effective Job Search Starts With An Interview Bucket List
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Despite your fears, you've decided to take the plunge and look for a new job. You might be asking yourself, "Where do I start?" The answer is simple: start by creating an interview bucket list.
An interview bucket list is a list of 10-20 companies you'd love to work for. Are you passionate about a company's products or services? Do you feel connected to its mission? Can you relate to its values and beliefs as an organization? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, that company probably belongs on your interview bucket list.
Once you create an interview bucket list, you'll be able to conduct a targeted job search, one with direction and a foundation upon which everything else will be built. An interview bucket list helps you focus your job search and networking strategies on the right opportunities, making it easier to get your foot in the door at one of your dream companies.
2. Your Job Application Needs To Disrupt Hiring Managers
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In order to stand out in the hiring process, you need to disrupt recruiters and hiring managers. You accomplish this by doing two things: optimizing your resume and writing a disruptive cover letter.
A well-optimized resume includes keywords from the job description. This ensures your resume gets past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager. Once it's in front of the hiring manager, it needs to grab and keep their attention. Quantifying your work experience—adding numbers to your bullet points—will make you stand out from other applicants. Hiring managers will want to know more about you and your accomplishments, and that's how you land a phone interview.
Before that, though, a hiring manager will read your cover letter. To disrupt them, you need to write a disruptive cover letter (obviously!). A disruptive cover letter gives you the opportunity to tell a story about why you feel connected to the company you're applying for. It's that storytelling aspect that will stand out to hiring managers and compel them to pick up the phone and give you a call.
3. Employers Hire You Based On 3 Things
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You can't get hired unless you know what employers are assessing you on in the interview process. While your skills and expertise matter, companies actually hire for three things: personality, aptitude, and experience (in that order).
Most job seekers don't realize how important it is to demonstrate their personality, aptitude, and experience in an interview. You could have the right experience for a job, but if the hiring manager doesn't think your personality is a good fit for the company culture, you probably won't get a job offer.
Make sure you demonstrate your soft skills and learn how to answer behavioral interview questions to prove you're the best candidate for the job you're applying for, not just the most qualified.
Want To Learn More Job Search Secrets?
As you look for a job this fall, it might be helpful to know some more spooky secrets so you can get over your job search fears and finally take control of your career.
We know the job search process can be scary. However, it's important to get clear on what you want to do next and focus on conducting a strategic job search, or what we refer to at Work It DAILY as job shopping. This is the only way to effectively market yourself to employers. If they can't see exactly where and how you add value, then that's going to decrease your chances of landing the job.
The competition is fierce, and there are a lot of factors that are out of your control. But the one factor you can control is your job search strategy, the tools and tactics you use to land a job.
If you want to learn the secrets to conducting a strategic job search, sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp, a two-hour, on-demand video workshop that comes with a free workbook.
In this video workshop, you'll learn:
How to use backchanneling to get directly to hiring managers.
The secret to using a connection story to stand out against the competition.
How social media can be your secret weapon to get job interviews.
The resume format that is getting job seekers more job interviews.
