Tips to Beat the Resume Parser

I uploaded my resume to parse and it didn't parse correctly.

When applying for jobs online, we recommend having two digital versions of your resume handy - your professional, visually pleasing document and a basic, barely formatted version for those applicant tracking systems (ATS) using a parser.

There are millions of resume templates out there. Resume parsers found in an ATS just need the facts (raw data) to quickly input that data into basic, pre-determined fields found on employment application forms.

Save your visually pleasing, beautifully formatted resume to email directly to a recruiter or hand to a person at a networking event.

Below are suggestions for an easier parsing experience:

No templates – The resume templates found in Word are handy, but since they require you to enter your info using fields and tables, they can confuse an ATS. You’re better off starting from scratch.
Keep it simple – Don’t confuse the system with borders, horizontal lines, tables and text boxes. Plain text is best—and be sure to use a standard font like Times New Roman, Calibri or Arial since it's sometimes difficult for software to discern letters of “fancier” fonts.
Have white space – An ATS needs to differentiate between different sections of your resume to know where to dump what data, so white space is key. Use standard section names such as “Work Experience” and “Education” so the software knows where to find everything.
Be consistent – ATS software is programmed to pick up on patterns, so if your first position lists the company first, followed by the title, dates and duties, the rest of your positions should follow the same format (and don't put the dates first). This will increase your chances of the right data going to the right place.
No headers/footers – Since some filtering software ignores headers and footers, don’t use them for important information like your name, phone number, etc.
Use the right keywords – A little internet research will help find popular keywords in your industry. Avoid acronyms unless they’re included in the job description.