HOW TO BEAT
AN ATS
Leveraging Keywords and
Other Pro-Tips to Make it Past
an Applicant Tracking System
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software that
employers use to find the most qualified candidates
for a role. These systems help streamline the hiring
process and remove resumes that do not meet the
qualifications.
Applicant tracking systems work by scanning your
submitted resume and cover letter to find keywords
that match the job posting.
What is an ATS?
Look at the job posting, and use the same keywords
in your application in a way that naturally highlights
your experience and skills.
Consider looking up similar jobs to get ideas for other
terms you can include that may pique the interest of
the applicant tracking system and hiring manager.
To determine the most important keywords, make a
note of specific software, education, certifications and
experiences that a job posting mentions.
What kind of keywords
are they looking for?
Example: twistle
DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
Where can I utilize these
keywords?
Applicant Tracking Systems will find
keywords throughout your resume.
Focus on integrating them in these
sections:
Summary
Job titles
Accomplishment statements
Skills
Projects
Does each resume have to
be customized?
Even if two positions you are applying for are very
similar, you should tailor your resume to each one. The
job descriptions are likely to vary from each other in
some way, so use any differences you find to make your
resume more specific to each job.
Employers are different as well. Take the time to visit
each company's website to get an idea of their values
and the business they do. You can then incorporate
what you learned into your resume and cover letter in
order to stand out.
Test your resume by using EMSI's free "Resume
Optimizer" tool, a new skills-based prototype that will
help people improve their resumes as they apply for
new jobs.
This tool mimics an applicant tracking system and will
identify both found skills and skill opportunities!
EMSI RESUME OPTIMIZER
skills.emsidata.com/resume
!
Pro-Tip:
PROJECTS ON YOUR
RESUME
Research projects demonstrate your skills in data analysis,
problem-solving, and attention-to-detail.
Volunteer projects are a great way to showcase skills and
the social or community issues that are meaningful to you.
Creative projects demonstrate your ability to create design
and content relevant to a wide variety of careers.
Technology and design projects showcase your knowledge
of software and other tools.
Pro-Tip:
EXAMPLES
"Otters and Their Habitats" | 90 second animation | Shedd Aquarium October 2019
Animated educational video that introduces aquarium visitors to the native habitat of Pacific Sea Otters as well as the
dangers climate change poses to their survival.
Designed script-driven storyboards and edited audio track to align with motion graphics.
"Staycation" | social media campaign March 2020
CreatedInstagram and TikTok campaign promoting safe social distancing practices for GenZ college students in Chicago.
Wrote copy and produced video content focused on inspiring followers to post their own shelter-in-place workouts and
playlists under the hashtag "staychicago."
Cultivated 300 followers on Instagram in one month and had 700 retweets of a single post.
“AlternativestoIncarceration" | policypaper January 2020
CollecteddataregardingrecidivismratesforincarceratedmalesandfemalesinEuropeanandUSstateprisons,withaspecial
focusonBelgium.
Analyzedandcomparedaverageprisontime-asitrelatedtotheratesofrepeatoffenders.
Surveyedlegalstatutesregardingmandatoryminimumsentencing.
ProfiledseveralnewinitiativesintheUSfocusedonPrisonerEducationanddraftedsummary.
RESUME SUMMARY
A resume summary, usually
placed at the top of the
document, introduces your major
qualifications and alignment with
the role.
While optional, the resume
summary can help establish an
immediate claim about your skills
and help the reader see your
experience in context.
Pro-Tip:
Cinematographer, videographer, storyboard artist, producer, and editor with
experience in feature film, documentary filmmaking, political media, and
commercial advertising.
Name Name
Email.gmail.com | 612-555-1212 | LinkedIn: namename
Summaries highlight the most relevant skills for the job, and often
feature a claim about your interests or passions.
Mental health professional passionate about impacting the lives of
culturally-diverse communities via compassion and a commitment to
high-impact professional development.
Emerging events and public relations professional with a passion for creating
community and engaging diverse audiences in meaningful experiences.
IMMEDIACY
The design of your resume is a big factor in the
reader’s experience and comprehension.
You can labor over word choice and accomplishments
to include, but unless you have considered the design
of your resume, you risk the reader skipping over the
most important content.
Pro-Tip:
Your goal for the resume is to
make it easy for the reader to
scan VERY quickly for the most
relevant and important
experience and skills.
Use formatting— boldface,
type scale, strategic use of
white space—to make key
information easy to find.
COMMUNICATE
DIRECTLY WITH THE
HIRING MANAGER
You can bypass the ATS by sending your materials directly to the
hiring manager with a brief note expressing your interest in the role.
Sometimes a hiring manager is identified in a job description, but you
can also find the correct individual via the company website or
LinkedIn. Add a note encouraging them to forward the email if it goes
to the wrong person!
Super Pro-Tip:
Dear ___,
My name is Joe Smith
and I recently
submitted my
application for the ___
role. I have attached
my resume and cover
letter for your
convenience. I am
particularly interested
in this role because it
aligns with my
background in _ and
my skills in ___.
Thanks so much for
your time.
WHAT CAN THE CAREER
CENTER DO FOR YOU?
Drop-In Career Coaching (no appointment necessary!)
Virtual Appointments with Career Community Advisors
Email Resume Review
Access a Career Library of 50+ Handouts and Videos
Search for opportunities on Handshake, our careers platform
Network with Alumni on (ASK) or Alumni Sharing Knowledge
careercenter.depaul.edu
Thank You!
