"Scanning" or "Electronic Applicant Tracking" Systems

     Latest reports all but confirm that America is in a recession. Fortune 500 companies, local, state, and federal governments are not immune to the effects of recessionary symptoms and like all other entities whose immediate plans for survival include downsizing workforces, their human resource departments are likewise reduced causing workloads to be more detail intensive for those who remain. It is for these and other similar reasons that many companies have installed software systems that read, analyze, and store resumes for months and in some cases years. These “electronic applicant tracking” systems also identify those resumes that meet certain criteria as programmed and alert staffs of the suitability of such applicants or produce of them what is known as a “hit.” It is these resumes that the system “hits” that are then humanly examined and most times respective applicants are invited to enter the interview process.
     More than just corporate America, State, local and Federal governments, many smaller employers are making use of these relatively new resume scanning systems because like most technologies, over time they become more affordable. For those seeking government employment the use of “electronic applicant tracking” systems is a given. In many cases, we recommended our clients order both scannable and traditional resumes, permitting them to explore government, Fortune 500 and smaller business opportunities simultaneously.
     Another important and little known procedure which, abused daily are the rules attributed to properly uploading resumes to online job sites and corporate website career application processes. We are happy to alert our clientelle of these procedures to ensure their online applications receive maximum “hits.”
     In all cases, “electronic resume tracking” systems rely on key/buzz words and phrases. Therefore, when writing effective resumes the use of many generalized key /buzz words and phrases must be applied. We look to our clients to make us aware of those profession and industry specific key/buzz words and phrases that best conform to their employment objectives.