Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS, scan resumes for keywords and simple structure.
They check for job titles, skills, certifications, and dates. They can discard resumes with tricky layouts or missing keywords.
For a Mandarin Teacher, ATS looks for language skills and teaching terms. Include keywords like "Mandarin", "Putonghua", "HSK", "AP Chinese", "CLT", "TPR", "lesson planning", "differentiated instruction", "curriculum development", "formative assessment", and "language proficiency".
- Use clear section titles like "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills", and "Certifications".
- List certifications such as "HSK Level 5", "Teaching Credential", or "TESOL" if relevant.
- Put important keywords in the Skills and Experience sections naturally.
Avoid complex formatting. Do not use tables, columns, text boxes, headers, footers, images, or graphs.
Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Save as .docx or a simple PDF. Avoid heavily designed files that ATS may misread.
Common mistakes cost interviews. Don’t replace exact job keywords with creative synonyms. Don’t hide dates or roles in images or headers. Don’t omit core tools like digital gradebooks or LMS names when they appear in job ads.
Write simple bullet points that show results and include keywords. Use active verbs like "taught", "developed", "assessed", and "differentiated". Keep sections short and clear so both ATS and hiring managers read them easily.