How can you optimize your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems when changing careers?

1 Tip 1: Research your target industry and job

Before you start writing your resume, you need to do some research on your target industry and job. Find out what are the common skills, qualifications, and keywords that employers are looking for in your new field. You can use online tools like Jobscan or SkillSyncer to compare your resume with job postings and identify the gaps and opportunities. You can also look at the resumes of successful professionals in your desired career and see how they present their background and achievements.

2 Tip 2: Use a clear and simple format

ATS are not very good at reading fancy or creative resumes. They prefer a clear and simple format that makes it easy for them to scan and extract the relevant information. Avoid using graphics, tables, columns, or text boxes that might confuse the ATS. Use a standard font, such as Arial or Times New Roman, and a font size between 10 and 12 points. Use consistent headings, subheadings, and bullet points to organize your resume. Use white space and margins to make your resume look neat and professional.

3 Tip 3: Highlight your transferable skills

One of the main challenges of changing careers is how to show that you have the skills and experience that are relevant for your new role. You might not have the exact qualifications or certifications that the employer is looking for, but you might have some transferable skills that can be applied to different situations and industries. Transferable skills are skills that you have developed in your previous jobs or education that can be useful in your new career, such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, or leadership. You can highlight your transferable skills by using a functional or hybrid resume format, which focuses more on your skills and achievements than on your chronological work history. You can also use a summary statement or a career objective at the top of your resume to explain your career change and how your skills match the job requirements.

4 Tip 4: Use keywords and phrases from the job description

One of the most important ways to optimize your resume for ATS is to use keywords and phrases from the job description. Keywords are the specific words and terms that the employer uses to describe the skills, qualifications, and responsibilities of the job. Phrases are the combinations of keywords that form a complete sentence or idea. For example, if you are applying for a project manager position, some of the keywords might be "project management", "budgeting", "stakeholder communication", and some of the phrases might be "manage multiple projects", "deliver projects on time and within budget", "communicate effectively with stakeholders". You can use keywords and phrases from the job description throughout your resume, especially in your summary statement, skills section, and work experience section. You can also use synonyms or variations of the keywords and phrases, as long as they are relevant and accurate. However, do not overuse or stuff keywords and phrases, as this might make your resume look unnatural or spammy.

5 Tip 5: Quantify your achievements and results

Another way to optimize your resume for ATS is to quantify your achievements and results. Quantifying means using numbers, percentages, or other metrics to show the impact and value of your work. For example, instead of saying "improved customer satisfaction", you can say "increased customer satisfaction by 25% in six months". Quantifying your achievements and results can make your resume more specific, measurable, and impressive. It can also help you demonstrate your transferable skills and how they can benefit your new employer. You can use quantifiers in your summary statement, skills section, and work experience section, as well as in your cover letter.

6 Tip 6: Proofread and test your resume

The last tip to optimize your resume for ATS is to proofread and test your resume. Proofreading means checking your resume for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors. You can use online tools like Grammarly or Hemingway to help you with this task. You can also ask a friend, a mentor, or a professional resume writer to review your resume and give you feedback. Testing means running your resume through an ATS simulator or a mock application to see how it performs and what score it gets. You can use online tools like Jobscan or Resume Worded to help you with this task. You can also tweak and adjust your resume based on the results and suggestions from these tools.

7 Here’s what else to consider

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