Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes for keywords and simple structure. They parse text fields, look for role-relevant terms, and rank candidates. If your resume lacks key words or uses odd formatting, ATS may skip it.
For an ERP Project Manager you should use clear section titles like "Work Experience", "Education", and "Skills". Include hard terms such as "SAP ECC", "SAP S/4HANA", "Oracle ERP Cloud", "Microsoft Dynamics 365", "PMP", "Agile", "Waterfall", "business process reengineering", "change management", "UAT", "integration", "APIs", "SQL", "cutover planning".
Use plain formatting. Avoid tables, columns, text boxes, headers, footers, images, and embedded charts. Save as a simple .docx or a text-first PDF.
Best practices:
- Match keywords from the job posting naturally in your bullets and skills list.
- Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman at 10-12pt.
- Keep dates and company names in one line per job for easy parsing.
Common mistakes include swapping exact keywords for creative synonyms. Don't write "project lead" when the posting asks for "ERP Project Manager". Avoid putting important info in headers or footers. ATS may drop those fields.
Also, don’t omit crucial tool or certification terms. If the role needs "SAP S/4HANA" or "PMP", name them exactly. Short, clear bullets help. They show your impact and keep ATS happy.