Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes for keywords and structured data. They rank and filter applicants before a human sees your resume.
For a Visual Coordinator, ATS looks for visual merchandising terms, software names, and retail metrics. Include keywords like "visual merchandising", "planograms", "Adobe Photoshop", "SketchUp", "fixture installation", "store layouts", "brand guidelines", "inventory coordination", "seasonal campaigns", "SKU management", and "vendor coordination".
- Use standard sections like "Work Experience", "Education", and "Skills".
- Use clear job titles and dates. Use bullet points for duties and achievements.
- Save as a simple PDF or .docx. Avoid images and complex layouts.
Avoid tables, columns, text boxes, headers, footers, and images. Those elements can confuse parsers and drop key info.
Pick readable fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Keep font sizes between 10 and 12 points.
Write keywords naturally in context. Match terms from the job posting instead of guessing synonyms. Show tools and results, like "reduced setup time by 20% using standardized planograms".
Common mistakes include replacing precise terms with creative synonyms, hiding dates in headers, and omitting certifications like "CPM" or "OSHA" if they matter. Missing software names or merchandising terms will hurt your match score.