078: How to optimize your resume for the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody | UX, Product Design, UX Research

In today’s episode Sarah addresses a topic that affects nearly every job seeker: the Applicant Tracking System, or ATS. With so much misinformation and myths swirling around about how ATS works, Sarah spends intentional time cutting through the noise to give you the real story. She’ll break down what an ATS is, how it processes your resume, and why it's crucial to optimize your document for these systems. Sarah also shares actionable tips to increase your visibility to recruiters and hiring managers. If you're in the middle of a job search or gearing up for one, this episode is packed with insights to help you navigate the complexities of the ATS and land your next role.

Quotables

“One of the myths out there is that the ATS is a robot rejecting people. And that is not totally true."

"You want to be customizing your resume for every job you apply to. Now that does not mean recreating it from scratch every single time. It could mean that you're just rewriting certain bullet points, reordering bullet points, maybe even removing bullet points to draw attention to the bullet points that are more relevant to that job you are applying to."

Timestamps

00:28 Applicant tracking systems organize and rank candidates.

04:01 Recruiters and managers make final hiring decisions.

08:37 Applicant tracking systems and self-ranking summary in hiring.

12:43 Understanding applicant tracking systems & its human impact.

💬 Did this episode resonate with you? Tag Sarah on social media and share your biggest takeaway!

🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025

👉 Join Career Strategy Lab – Apply now to start your own UX job search transformation

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter

📩 Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! 🚀