Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software tools employers use to screen resumes. They scan text for keywords, dates, job titles, and contact details. They can reject resumes that use odd formats or miss key terms.
For a Process Engineer, ATS looks for skills like Lean, Six Sigma, DOE, root cause analysis, P&ID, PLC, MATLAB, CAD, ISO 9001, process optimization, and SAP. It also reads measurable results like % yield improvement or reduced cycle time.
- Use standard section titles: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications, Projects.
- List tools and methods separately under Skills: e.g., Lean, Six Sigma (Green Belt), DOE, MATLAB, AutoCAD, PLC programming.
- Show metrics in experience bullets: e.g., Reduced cycle time 18% via kaizen event.
Avoid complex formatting. Tables, columns, headers, footers, text boxes, images, and graphs confuse ATS. Put plain text for dates, company names, and job titles.
Pick standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Save as PDF or .docx unless the job post asks for one format. Avoid heavily designed templates that break parsing.
Common mistakes include swapping exact keywords for creative synonyms. Don’t write “process guru” instead of “Process Engineer” or “Lean Six Sigma” instead of “Six Sigma.” Placing key data in headers or images hides them from ATS. Skipping certifications and tool names kills match scores.
Follow these steps and you raise your match rate. Keep language clear, list tools and certifications, and show metrics in each role.