Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software tools employers use to scan resumes. They look for keywords, dates, and standard sections. An ATS can drop your Air Pollution Control Engineer resume if it can't parse your content or find key skills.
For an Air Pollution Control Engineer, the ATS will search for technical terms and certifications. Use keywords like "air permitting", "NSPS", "MACT", "PSD", "Title V", "stack testing", "CEMS", "AERMOD", "dispersion modeling", "SCR", "FGD", "particulate control", "EPA Method 5", "continuous emissions monitoring", "PE", and "CIH". Include software names like "MATLAB", "Python", "COMSOL", "EPA AERMOD", and "SABER" when they match your experience.
Best practices:
- Use standard section titles: "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills", "Certifications".
- Weave keywords naturally into bullets and job titles.
- Avoid tables, columns, headers, footers, images, and text boxes.
- Use simple fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
- Save as .docx or PDF, and test how the ATS reads the file.
Avoid common mistakes. Don’t swap exact keywords for creative synonyms. Avoid hiding data in headers or footers. Don’t leave out critical certifications or tools you use daily. Those omissions hurt your match score.
Format each job entry with clear employer name, city, dates, and 2–6 concise bullets. Start bullets with strong verbs like "designed", "led", "modeled", or "managed". Quantify results when you can, for example, "reduced PM emissions by 30%".