Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Episode 129 - What Is ATS and How It Works: Learn How to Make It to the Candidate Shortlist - with Michael Yinger

Guest: Michael Yinger

Michael Yingers’s career in supporting the needs of the recruitment and selection function parallels the creation and evolution of the ATS – Applicant Tracking System. So, of course, Michael is an amazing repository of knowledge of all things relating to the automation of recruitment and selection of candidates and, in fact, both the technical and humanistic side of the entire recruitment and selection process.

If you are interested to know what happens to your job application once you submit it, you have to listen to this episode! Michael explains how resumes are short-listed automatically, as well as how the automation is actually put in place by humans making decisions about specific keywords which may or may not be on your application.

Michael details the things that will compromise your job application being appropriately read by a machine, making this episode one of the most important conversations I’ve had in a long time for those who are serious about converting from job application to interview.

The message from Michael is clear: If your resume is not written for ATS compliance, you run the risk of it being eliminated from the recruitment process.

As we discussed at the end of this episode, there’s no need for professionals to re-invent the wheel. That is why I created Reset Your Career. It’s a program that is ready for you and has templates and resources to help you update your resume and start your job search with confidence. Click here to learn more and access it now.

About Our Guest, Michael Yinger

Michael Yinger is the COO and Co-Founder of ResumeSieve, Inc., and a SaaS startup focused on improving the productivity of the recruitment process, starting with evaluating and ranking resumes. Mike has been in the global talent acquisition space for 20 years, working in client delivery, sales, product management, technology, strategy, and implementation. His key focus is using process and technology to improve recruiting for the candidates, the hiring managers, and the recruiting team.

About the Host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I’m Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I’m also an executive coach, job hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach professionals (corporate, non-profit, and public) the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress.

If you are an ambitious professional who is keen to develop a robust career plan, if you are looking to find your next job or promotion, or if you want to keep a finger on the pulse of the job market so that when you are ready, and an opportunity arises, you can hit the ground running, then this podcast is for you.

In addition to The Job Hunting Podcast, on my website, I have developed a range of courses and services for professionals in career or job transition. And, of course, I also coach private clients

Timestamps to Guide Your Listening

[03:20] The story behind The Job Hunting Podcast
[05:54] Michael’s career story and the level of the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
[08:11] Types of clients that use ATS systems.
[13:39] Michael explains the recruitment and selection funnel
[15:50] Comparing the recruitment and selection done by humans vs. bots
[18:50] What ATS does do to your application
[19:40] Michael’s recommendations for job candidates on how to comply with ATS
[25:45] How should we use keywords in our resume.
[26:09] It’s possible to cheat your way to the short-list, but that will not help you get the job
[30:29] It’s essential to break out what you’re doing instead of a job title.
[36:00] Distinguishing yourself into a new industry.
[45:00] The difference between the podcast content and my coaching content