HOW TO COMPLETE AN ONLINE APPLICATION Before you can apply online, you first need to register with the job website. This simply means that you need to create an account. To do this, you will need to choose a login name and a password. Many websites will use your email address as your login. You will have to register separately for each job website. Once you have an account, you can add the information from your resume. Below are the three most common ways to do this: 1. Attach a file of your resume. Many applications allow you to browse for a file on your computer or USB drive. They often ask for a PDF, text or Microsoft Word file. Select your file and click “ok” or “insert.” It’s just like attaching a file to an email message. Online applications often indicate if the file has been successfully uploaded. 2. Copy and paste your entire resume into the online application. Open your resume file. Highlight all of the text using the mouse. Select “Copy” from the menu or by right clicking. Go to the online application to insert your resume. Select “Paste” from the menu or by right clicking. Make sure you check the formatting of your resume. You can add your resume to an email message using the same method. 3. Enter your work history manually one field at a time. Some online applications have different fields for different information. For example, you enter a past employer’s name in one field, your dates of employment in another and your duties in yet another. This type of application can be very time-consuming to complete. To save time and reduce errors, cut and paste text from your resume using the method above. If you’re having trouble completing the application, look for a “Help” button or link. Staff at your local Career Center cannot complete applications for you, but can provide guidance. APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM (ATS) Many companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to screen candidates for job opportunities. An ATS is a computer program that sorts through resumes and online job applications to determine which ones are the best fit for the positions for which they were submitted. Applicant Tracking Systems process your resume or application differently than human recruiters. While human recruiters are often looking for grounds for automatic rejection, such as spelling errors or lack of relevant skills, an ATS operates by searching for keywords. Applicant resumes and job applications must first survive the ATS before a person looks at them. Here are some tips to help your resume or job application get past the ATS and into the hands of a hiring manager. ATS TIPS 1. Make sure you’re qualified for the job and you clearly demonstrate your qualifications. The ATS will weed out unqualified candidates. 2. Identify key words in the job description and take the time to use these key words in your resume or job application. Incorporate these words when describing your experience to match the requirements in the job description. 3. Make sure all of your information is completely spelled out; avoid abbreviations or use them in addition to the full spelling as we’ve done in this section on Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Abbreviations that may be understood by hiring managers may not be recognized by a computer. 4. Fill out all fields on the application. Recruiters sometimes skip over candidates who don’t complete their applications. Also, an ATS may filter candidates by their responses to certain fields in the online application. Don’t be filtered out of the process by leaving blanks. 5. Lastly, use a simple format and avoid special characters, fonts, graphics or underlines. Most websites will recommend acceptable formats such as Word or PDF. Only use a recommended format. 44
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