What is ATS and what does that mean for my nurse resume?
By: Sarah K. Wells, MSN. RN. CEN. CNL
Resumes have CHANGED over the years. Today’s resume has to work to work for humans AND computers. #saywhat
The reason why your resume has to work for computers is Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software:
What is ATS? ATS is computer software, often incorporating AI, designed to scan resumes for keywords and then filter out the ones that do not match the job description.
Your resume today has to be a SMART document with formatting to be compatible with the ATS.
I like to tell people that your resume is the key and the ATS is the lock to the door of the interview. If your key doesn’t fit the door’s lock, you will never be considered for the job.
ATS & The #BlackHoleEffect
So in short, resumes today have to be compatible with ATS software. You can think of ATS as a Resume Bot that can be your best friend or worst enemy.
What does this look like?
I call this the #BlackHoleEffect. This is the phenomenon that occurs when nurses apply to dozens or even hundreds of job postings via hospital websites and never get a call back. It is not because they are not qualified for the job. It is simply because their resume document is not compatible with the ATS software.
Read that again - because of a document problem, nurses are not getting considered for nurse jobs during a historic staffing crisis.
How to Beat the Resume Bot - Formatting
First, you need to know that ATS software often CANNOT read certain formatting. To make sure that your resume is ATS software friendly, do the following:
Use a White Background - Your resume needs to have a white background. Any color that is not white - meaning gray, beige, pink, anything that is not white - can prevent your resume from being selected by ATS software.
Say No to Photos or Complex Graphics - ATS software often cannot read files with photos or graphics. That means no cute ECG strips in your header or photos of yourself. These are fine for resumes attached to an email or printed out to hand to someone, just not for uploading to an online job application portal.
Upload Your Resume as a PDF File - Many ATS software systems have trouble reading MS Word or Note files. To make sure that your resume gets considered for a job interview, always upload your resume in a PDF file format.
Resume Keyword Loading
Now, let’s talk about how to load up your resume with the keywords that help you get picked by the Resume Bot.
ATS software scans your resume for keywords. The more keywords you put in your resume, the better chances you will have of being picked by ATS and having your application reviewed by HR to be considered for an interview.
Where do we put the keywords? The best place to #keywordload is in a “Professional Summary” section near the top of your resume. But what words do you use?
If you look at any nurse job posting, you will see the “required qualifications” and the “preferred qualifications”listed. The “preferred qualifications” sound very generic, but often these are the keywords ATS is programmed to look for! Consider using similar wording as the job posting to ensure that your resume is chosen by the Resume Bot
This is all making my head hurt.
It’s a lot, I know. But to be competitive in today’s nursing job market, you need to be an informed consumer who is educated on the tech used in hiring processes.
And I have good news! New Thing Nurse is here to help!
How New Thing Nurse can help you beat the Resume Bot!
New Thing Nurse has the tools and services to help you land the interview for your nurse dream job!
New Thing Nurse offers nurse and nurse practitioner resume templates that are SMART formatted to be picked by ATS and are eye-catching to healthcare leaders. Easy-to-use, written with ATS-compatible suggested wording HEAVY on the keywords, and affordable for any budget, this is a perfect answer to the #BlackHoleEffect:
Don’t have time to use a template? Use the New Thing Nurse personalized resume preparation services. This allows you to live your best life knowing that a proven expert in nurse and nurse practitioner resume writing is creating a winning professional document to support you in succeeding in your next career move!
For more information on New Thing Nurse personalized document services, reach out!!
About the Author: Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an 11+ year nurse dedicated to helping nurses of all experience levels and specialties achieve success in their careers. Sarah founded New Thing Nurse to help provide support and guidance to the nursing community in a simple and direct format. Sarah’s vision is to foster a more supportive and fulfilled nursing world that spreads throughout healthcare and beyond.
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