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Is Resume ATS Software helping or hurting?
I'm in the process of writing a white paper regarding the pros and cons of ATS. I won't post my thoughts until I get some feedback from all of you.
Please give me your thoughts, you can remain anonymous if you would like. Thanks!
Lauren RiosOnline Higher Education | Education Management
478
04/23/20 at 9:03PM UTC
I was let go from job at the beginning of the year. LinkedIN was brandnew to me as was the term ATS. After learning about ATS and what it does, I was actually a little mortified that this process could weed out so many amazing applicants. I know that I have a great background in higher education, and one that has spanned over a decade, but this ATS software makes me more weary about future job opportunities I may never have the ability to interview for and it is because a software decides if I am a good fit or not.
Jennifer TaylorCommunications Professional
666
04/24/20 at 3:35AM UTC
Like you Lauren, I find myself unemployed and found myself overwhelmed by ATS. I have spent hours perfecting my standard resume and cover letter only to find myself spending another hour or so tweaking my resume and writing new cover letters for each job application.
Lauren RiosOnline Higher Education | Education Management
478
04/24/20 at 3:50PM UTC
It is maddening, isn't? I have a master resume, but every job that I apply to this resume has to reflect every word in the job description so that I can at least get some attention...if at all.
I have started to use the words successfully, created, removed bottlenecks etc in hopes that this would create some traction.
These small updates, just as you said, can take an hour or more.
As I am writing this and hearing how frustrated we both are I searched online for some ATS feedback type sites.
I found one https://resumeworded.com and just used it. I was a little shocked with the outcome, but I think this will give me something to do in terms of rewording, removing, adding, etc.
Might be good to look at. I know that I will give this a shot in hopes that this quick review actually benefits me :)
Faith WalkerServant leader looking Project Management roles
14
04/23/20 at 6:49PM UTC
I absolutely abhor ATS software. As someone who uses her phone for 95% of my online activity, it is very frustrating to go through and apply for job positions using this software, especially with the larger companies. There is no easy way to apply from a job board when you have to leave the sponsoring site, create an account, upload your resume (and don’t get me started about having to browse for my resume), fix the entries in your job experience, do the EEOC check boxes, etc. It’s all time consuming and it deters me from making the most of applying for the job. The more hoops through which I have to jump, the less effort I want to place in my submission. Then when you do hit “submit”, you’re more than likely to have errors in your application. It’s very frustrating.
If the entry has a one-click apply process, that is the best way to go. I know many of these companies deal with a lot of volume when it comes to job postings and receiving applications, but they have to understand their UX or user experience stinks and they need to know that the process is tedious and played out!
I know I have excellent job and leadership skills and some of these companies are missing out on what I have to offer because they still rely on these arcane systems. It’s time for a new approach that is more people-oriented and not machine and volume-based.
Gillianne HetrickHR Manager & Non-Profit Director
426
04/22/20 at 1:17AM UTC
The theme of answers are overwhelmingly not wins for either side. And I'll add to that... mostly agreeing with everything everyone already said.
From the company side the pros are time saving, however I think I'd rather outsource to a sourcing company that uses people than to an ATS. The other big pro is tracking - with a lot of open positions it can be challenging to keep the hiring managers aware of the process and next steps, the candidates aware of their status in the process, and tracking the EEO stats for reporting.
The cons are as already stated, if set up with too tight of parameters or if the job descriptions are imperfect, the company can lose out on quality candidates.
There only seem to be cons for the candidates including the already mentioned being passed over for a position they would be great at, the cumbersome processes for applying, etc.
Anonymous
04/21/20 at 1:58PM UTC
Yes, this is a thorn in my side. I look at the job description, make the necessary changes to my resume, and I still get dear johns. It's not an exact science. Once in a while, I get a hit, but it is just frustrating. But, I realize with so many resumes, HR needs a way to make it easier.
Chre M. Davis, M.S.Ed.Administrator | Educator | Intrapreneur
1.04k
04/21/20 at 3:20AM UTC
Great discussion! I can definitely see both sides. As a job seeker, I am intentional in thoroughly researching positions and understanding the job description so I can tailor my application. And ultimately having the ability to network your way into a job remains the most tried and true approach, something that the dreaded ATS will not take change.
HEATHERI reduce communication barriers
375
04/20/20 at 11:06PM UTC
I agree with so many of the previous comments from the point of view of an applicant. I am 95% positive that I've missed out in the past on having my resume seen by an actual human being because I hadn't learned to play the "ATS game". I am much better at using those key words that are likely to be picked up by the ATS. I am still not a big fan, but I do feel for recruiters who have to wade through 100s of resumes. I just think that some recruiters are definitely missing out on great candidates, since the ATS can't pick up on nuances.
I felt vindicated to hear Deb's story about how that manager and all of the HR staff had their own resumes rejected by their ATS. I hope that improvements will be made. I share the frustration mentioned early on that it's labour-intensive to have to manually enter info that you've communicated in your resume.
Deb StricklandDigital Marketing | Analytics & Tech Nomad
181
04/20/20 at 6:08PM UTC
ATS bad for employers as it often removes highly qualified candidates because of how it was configured. ATS bad for job candidates because only 2-4% ever get their resume seen by a human. ATS is good for employers if it's properly used to filter out those who are not qualified when they receive 100's of apps for the same job.
A poorly configured ATS will filter out ideal candidates for very trivial things. This software has been around for decades so it's not new. I've read too many articles about hiring managers frustrated they are't getting the right candidates, but then HR claims the ATS is doing its job. One article was about a manager who had all of HR and two other departments submit their resume via ATS. Every single person failed to qualify for their own job!! If that doesn't tell you the system is messed up, nothing will.
Valerie Martinelli, MPA Career & Leadership Development Expert
184
04/20/20 at 6:03PM UTC
Not sure on the context of the question- whom it is supposed to be helping or hurting- but I find that many candidates are still pretty low info on ATS. Some still don't even know what it is and choose to neglect it, only setting themselves and their job search up for failure. Talking about employers, I understand why they don't they want generic resumes anymore either. You want a candidate to discuss how they can solve problems in your org, contribute to your workplace, and what they can do for your organization. You can't do that with a generic resume. Also, it got quite easy for candidates to haphazardly apply, leaving employers with thousands of resumes to weed through with no other way to do it other than to turn to technology. Lack of technology also opens up the process to more human error and bias.
Jennifer TaylorCommunications Professional
666
04/20/20 at 6:05PM UTC
Thanks for responding Valerie! I want to do a deep dive into ATS - hurting or help the job seeker? Hurting or helping the TA/HR/Company looking to fill the position.
Valerie Martinelli, MPA Career & Leadership Development Expert
184
04/20/20 at 6:07PM UTC
No problem! Let me know if I can lend any further insights.
Lady PeleRetired Project Manager
3.96k
04/20/20 at 6:02PM UTC
The Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) parses a resume's content into categories and then scans it for specific keywords to determine if the job application should be passed along to the recruiter for the next step. A savvy job searcher will tailor the resume to the specific position, making sure the keywords in the job description are in their resume.
While I didn't look at it as "gaming the system", I did recognize I had a better chance of presenting and selling myself if I ensured my resume met the job description's highlights. So it helped me focus each resume rendition on what each hiring company identified as important.
Laura McCannDriving results through people engagement
325
04/20/20 at 5:47PM UTC
This is a great thread! I am getting ready to look at purchasing a new ATS for our company. My only exposure so far as been the limited access I have had to Taleo. Thanks for your feedback
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