I helped design the classifier for ATS software that is used by procter and gamble. They started with a generic script that reads scanned documents and another that reads standard format text documents. So both paper and digital resumes and applications could be stored. I've also seen commercial software at work (one of the reasons a big company like P&G ditched commercial software.
Digitally speaking, modern software is usually set by default (most HR teams do not change these settings) to reject all resumes with more than X grammatical and spelling errors. It uses the standard Microsoft library to figure all that out. Some stuff that will get you caught up... capitalization, using bullet points, double tabbing line for line (single tab only). MAKE SURE the document has an actual header...yanno, pertinent info like your name and contact information...this is the ONLY space where an @ and a non standard work like your name will not count against you.
Next...hop on the company website or...if it's an INTERNAL job...ask HR what they are looking for...your trying to get a sense of keywords. Your really could tag the resume with the top 5 keywords in use today to screen and probably get pretty close to bullseye sight unseen. Obvious stuff wont work, too many people use team player, skills...targets...attendance...studies...etc... think outside the box.
lastly if at all possible attempt to circumvent the system by putting your resume on an actual desk if at all possible. Hell...I know people who have landed jobs by mailing a package with their resume in it to HR. Other things that I know work are disposable usb drives with a few scanned in pics of things like your certifications, diplomas...for those of us with technical skills, a QUICK (less than 60 second) video showing off your welding skills or carpentry etc... goes a long way. beyond all this I have even seen people put up personal youtube channels.
Oh, P.S. SANITIZE YOUR FACEBOOK IMMEDIATELY. Your employer looks at your facebook, they will lie and say they don't but when it comes down to it HR is going to run your name. First of all...do not set it private, you can have private posts but I'd certainly have a flavor of post that is always public. Family events, babies...graduations, lots of smiling, good xmas, a birthday, etc. A clean presentable appearance in your profile, delete any picture suggesting political affiliation, DO be sport supportive, people like that. This is the modern world and an employer wants every possible advantage in finding a hire. Keep that in mind and I hope it helps.
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