Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes for keywords and structure. They rank matches and filter many applicants automatically. If your resume lacks key phrases or uses odd formatting, ATS can reject it before a human reads it.
For a General Contractor, ATS looks for skills like project management, cost estimating, blueprint reading, permit acquisition, subcontractor management, OSHA compliance, scheduling software, change order management, and bonding or licensing details. Use those exact phrases when they appear in job postings.
- Use standard section titles: Work Experience, Education, Certifications, Skills, Licenses.
- List job titles, employer names, city/state, and dates in a clear order.
- Put key certifications like "OSHA 30" or "General Contractor License" in Certifications or Licenses.
Avoid fancy layouts. Skip tables, columns, text boxes, headers, footers, images, and graphs. ATS often misread those elements and drop content.
Pick common fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Save as a simple .docx or readable PDF. Avoid heavily designed templates that add hidden coding or unusual spacing.
Do not replace exact keywords with creative synonyms. If the posting asks for "subcontractor management," don’t only say "team coordination." Also avoid putting critical details in headers or footers. ATS might ignore them.
Finally, proof your resume for clarity and accuracy. Use short bullets that start with action verbs. Show measurable results like budgets managed, timelines met, or percentage cost savings.