“How do I get my resume through ATS?”
It’s a question I hear a lot from college‑age internship and job seekers. With the rise of AI, more and more conversations are popping up online about how to “get past” applicant tracking systems. The problem is, there is no single answer.
Why? A few reasons:
(1) There are many different ATS platforms that companies can use.
(2) Each ATS has different functional capabilities.
(3) How an ATS is utilized can vary from recruiter to recruiter.
Although applicant tracking systems can be a barrier of sorts, they aren’t the end‑all be‑all to landing an interview. Incorporating keywords and phrases from the job description into your resume is essential; however, there’s more to it than just that.
Given the state of the job market, recruiters are inundated with applications to review, sometimes spending only seconds looking at your resume. If they can’t see immediately that you have the specific skills and types of experience they are seeking, you can quickly end up in the rejection pile.
For example, if a recruiter views your resume and doesn’t see a section titled “Internship Experience” or “Relevant Experience,” they may quickly assume that you don’t have it. Internship experience, campus involvement, community service, research experience, and so on are all different types of experience. It’s important that applicants section them separately. That way, a recruiter can see right off the bat whether you have the experience they’re looking for.
Not only is it essential to be involved in activities outside of the classroom, but in this job market, serving in leadership roles is a primary way to stand out. Recruiters and hiring managers want to know that you can lead, communicate, set goals, problem‑solve, manage your time, and take initiative. The best way to show them that you can do this is to showcase that you’ve done it before. Your GPA and academic projects can only go so far.
If you’re torn between adding a second page to showcase your experience outside of the classroom or keeping your resume to one page, add a second page. It’s worth it (however, there are lots of tips and tricks for fitting all of your experience onto one page).
Have questions about applicant tracking systems? Set up an appointment with Sarah Wild, Career Advisor, in the Duke Career Center via Handshake. Sarah is a former recruiter for interns and recent graduates.
