If youāve ever applied for a job online and heard nothing but crickets, you might have wondered:Ā Did my resume even make it through theĀ Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
The truth is, many job seekers struggle with the complexities of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), those mysterious software platforms recruiters use to manage applications.
To clear up the confusion, I recently hosted a LinkedIn Live webinar titled “Behind the Hiring Curtain: Demystifying the ATS,” featuring Eddie Stewart, an expert in talent acquisition and recruiting technology.
Eddie has spent over 25 years in the recruiting industry, optimizing ATS software for growth-focused companies. In our conversation, he gave us an insiderās look at:
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is hiring software that tracks, filters, and organizes applicants throughout the hiring process. While many job seekers believe ATS platforms “automatically reject” candidates, Eddie explained that they actually serve a broader role, including:
In other words, ATS software isnāt your enemyāitās a workflow tool that helps recruiters handle large applicant volumes.
One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation:
Your resume isnāt getting rejected by a machineā most of the time itās being reviewed by a human recruiter.
Hereās what happens behind the scenes when you submit your application:
Now that you know how ATS works, hereās how to optimize your application and increase your chances of getting hired:
While Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) play a major role in hiring, the real decision-makers are human recruiters and hiring managersāat least for now. The hiring landscape is evolving quickly. With the rise of AI-driven recruiting tools, the way applications are screened and selected may continue to change in the future.
Rather than focusing on how to ābeatā ATS filters, shift your focus to applying for roles that genuinely align with your skills, experience, and career trajectory.
Ensure your resume is not an obituaryāit shouldnāt just list what youāve done. Instead, position yourself for the future, showcasing how your background and abilities align with your desired role.
Strengthen your digital presenceāa well-optimized LinkedIn profile increases visibility and opens doors beyond job applications.
Network with industry professionalsāthe best way to land opportunities is often through direct connections, not online applications alone.
Want more insights on career branding and growth? Check out my Personal Branding Assessment to see how your professional presence measures up!
Not exactly. While some ATS systems use screening questions to filter candidates (e.g., “Do you have at least five years of experience?”), most of the time, a human recruiter is reviewing resumes and making the final decision.
Your resume should be as long as necessary, but as concise as possible. A one-page resume works for early-career professionals, but if you have over 10+ years of experience, a two-page resume is completely acceptable. The key is to ensure the most important information appears on the first page, as thatās where recruiters focus first.
If possible, apply directly on the companyās website. Some ATS systems prioritize applications submitted directly rather than those coming from job boards. However, if a job board has an “Easy Apply” option, itās still worth applying there for visibilityābut donāt stop there. Consider networking with someone inside the company as well.
Most modern ATS platforms accept both Word (.docx) and PDF files without issues. However, Word files are the safest option as some older ATS versions may struggle with PDFs containing complex formatting.
No! Your LinkedIn profile is NOT your resume. While they should align in terms of branding and career goals, your LinkedIn profile should be more engaging, human, and story-driven, while your resume should be more concise and job-specific.
Yes, most Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) will store all versions of your submitted CVs. Recruiters can typically see every position youāve applied for, along with the resume you used for each one. However, ATS systems are requisition-specific, meaning the resume you submitted for Job A wonāt automatically replace the resume submitted for Job Bātheyāll both be stored separately.
Some ATS platforms allow candidates to upload and save multiple resumes in their profile, so if you apply again in the future, make sure your most relevant and updated CV is attached to each application.
Including a short description for lesser-known companies can be helpfulāespecially if the company name doesnāt clearly indicate the industry. However, itās important to keep it concise to avoid overwhelming the resume.
A best practice is to add one or two lines under the company name, such as:
XYZ Tech Solutions (SaaS | $250M revenue | 1,500 employees)
This helps recruiters understand the scale and scope of your past employers without disrupting ATS parsing. Avoid lengthy paragraphsāyour resume should prioritize your role and accomplishments over company details.
It depends on the company. Some companies do post “Evergreen” job listingsāpositions that are always open because theyāre hiring continuously (e.g., customer service roles, sales positions). Others may post jobs to build a talent pipeline even if they donāt have an immediate opening.
However, most legitimate companies donāt post āfakeā jobs just for marketing. If a company repeatedly posts roles that never seem to get filled, it could be a red flag that theyāre either using it for data collection, market research, or to project growth to investors.
A good strategy is to network with employees at the company to get a sense of whether a role is actually open before spending time on an application.
Applicant Tracking System (ATS): A software tool companies use to track and manage job applicants.
Automated Screening Questions: Questions asked during a job application that filter out candidates who donāt meet basic requirements (e.g., “Do you have a Bachelorās degree?”).
Easy Apply (LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.): A feature on job boards that allows candidates to apply quickly with a saved resume, but may not always be the best way to get noticed by recruiters.
Evergreen Job Posting: A continuously open position that companies use to collect applicants for ongoing hiring needs, such as call center roles.
Networking Advocate: Someone inside a company who can refer you to the hiring team.
Parsing: How ATS software scans resumes for information.
Requisition (Rec): A formal job opening within a company.
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