In this video, the IST Career Solutions team delves into the impact of Applicant Tracking Systems on your job applications. Learn strategies to ensure your resume passes these systems and reaches hiring managers, increasing your chances of landing your desired role.
What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
There's a hidden barrier between you and your dream job that prevents up to 95% of job applications from ever crossing the hiring manager's desk: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
What is Quinncia?
Quinncia is an AI-driven career readiness platform that helps students and alumni optimize their resumes, practice interview skills, and enhance their LinkedIn profiles, providing instant feedback and guidance based on industry standards and best practices.
If you are a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year College of IST student interested in using Quinncia, schedule an appointment with an IST Career Coach to learn more about the platform and how to obtain access.
In this video, Quinncia provides an overview of ATS, explaining how these systems screen resumes and offering strategies to optimize your application for better visibility.
What is essential to your resume?
There are a few requirements for resumes to pass through applicant tracking systems:
- Create your resume in a Word document or Google doc, then export it as a PDF
- Make sure to include your contact information, education, and your experiences where you highlight your skills and achievements
- Avoid using graphics or images, as these can cause your resume to be immediately rejected
- Stick to a simple, straightforward format
What is AI interviewing?
Quinncia's interviewing feature offers tailored mock interviews and individualized feedback using AI to help you practice telling your story based on the experiences on your resume.
Different from video interviewing, many employers are moving first-round interviews to these AI-assisted interviews. There isn't a human on the other end. Instead, you are presented with questions on the screen or using audio. Using this mock interview system can help you prepare for an eventual video interview.
How does AI affect you as an applicant?
About 90% of companies use an ATS to review applications. ATS are set up to reject resumes on a number of items like graphics, photos, incorrect margins, columns, grammatical and spelling errors, and much more. While you may be a great candidate for an open job or internship, if your resume doesn't parse the ATS your resume will never be seen by a human.
When the average corporate job opening receives roughly 250 applications, you have to ensure your resume is ready to be read by an ATS. These systems make it easy for applicants to apply to jobs online and hiring managers to organize them. This means you are up against people who may have no interest in your dream job or internship. The last thing we want is for that person to move along in the application process instead of you.
