Applicant Tracking Systems

This morning in Job Club, we looked at ways employers can electronically screen applicants and how we can have a more desireable outcome with our electronic applications.  (Screen in vs. screen out.)

First Step: Have a copy of the job description available electronically.

Second Step: Have your resume available electronically.

Then: OPEN this link.  It will take you to Wordle.net.

Followed by: Wordle a second time.

** You now have four open documents. **

You are going to repeat the next step twice. 
Open the Wordle link and click on the "create" tab.
Then, copy the job description and paste it into text box.  Followed with copying your resume and pasting it into the second box.  I suggest you delete all of your employment dates so they do not overload your Wordle picture. 

Now, "click" the GO tab.  You will now have two word pictures.

Next: "click" the layout tab on each picture.  This will give you a drop-down menu.  Select Horizontal ... it will make your picture easier to read.  "Click" layout a second time ... and select maximum words: 25 is a good place to start. 

You now have a word picture of the 25 most prominent words in each of the documents.  Do the top 25 words in the job description match the top 25 words in your resume?

Have fun with this.  It is not meant to discourage you.  It is meant to show you how you can adjust your resume to reflect more of the keywords an employer might be seeking.

Best Wishes!