Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS, scan resumes for keywords and structure before a human ever reads them.
For a Cheese Processor, ATS looks for words like pasteurization, HACCP, GMP, sanitation, CIP, cheese cultures, rennet, milk handling, aging, yield tracking, batch records, and food safety certification.
- Use standard headers: "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills".
- List specific tools and processes: "CIP systems", "HACCP plan", "SSOP".
- Include certifications: "ServSafe", "HACCP certification", "Forklift operator".
Avoid complex formatting. Tables, columns, text boxes, headers, footers, images, and graphs can confuse ATS.
Pick readable fonts like Arial or Calibri and use bullet points for duties and achievements.
Save as a plain .docx or a simple PDF. Don’t use heavily designed templates.
Match keywords naturally. Pull terms from the Cheese Processor job posting and write them into your duties and skills.
Don’t over-stuff your resume with repeated keywords. Write clearly and honestly about your experience handling milk, cultures, and aging rooms.
Common mistakes include swapping exact keywords for creative synonyms, like writing "dairy handling" instead of "milk handling."
Another mistake comes when you hide details in headers or footers. ATS may skip that content.
Also avoid omitting important process terms. If you worked on CIP, list "CIP" and describe your role.