Everything You Need To Know About Resume Parsers

Resume parsers form an integral part of a recruiter’s day-to-day work. Just like one needs to be super careful while choosing an ATS, here’s everything you need to know about resume parsers in order to choose the right one.

As a recruiter, you may receive hundreds of resumes on a day to day basis. In addition, segregating important data can turn into a challenging and laborious task with the ample amount of resumes you receive. The traditional route requires hours of manual resume scanning to obtain the required data, but this process has become much more simplified with the advent of technology. This is where a resume parser helps get the work done in a much more manageable and streamlined manner. Therefore, a resume parser is an integral tool for modern-day recruiters to create a more convenient and efficient resume screening process. There’s no doubt that this saves a considerable amount of time and effort, but another bonus is that bias in resume scanning is eliminated.

What Is A Resume Parser & How Does It Function?

Instead of relying on the manual efforts of the workforce, a resume parser automatically analyses the received resumes. It works as a software program that is generally pre-installed in an Applicant Tracking System. A resume parser extracts the data of candidates onto a database where important candidate details can be identified, like keywords and contact information and turns the information into structured data. Resume parsing technology allows recruiters to gather, store, and organize large quantities of resumes online. Once acquired, the resume data can be easily stored and searched through, which speeds up the entire hiring process.

Resume parsing works by uploading all the applications and resumes for a job into a parsing software (or an Applicant Tracking System) and will start extracting relevant candidate information for recruiters. The system will automatically highlight the resumes of the best candidates and eliminate those without the relevant data so that you can effortlessly move on to the next phase of hiring.

What Are The Advantages Of Using A Resume Parser?

By now, it should be evident how crucial it is to integrate a resume parsing system into your recruitment process, but here are some other benefits to consider when utilising this invaluable tool for recruiters:

1. First and foremost, a resume parser will help save hours of work by eliminating manual work. This way, recruiting staff can focus on other crucial tasks, making it possible for an organisation to take on a larger number of CVs, resulting in higher quality talent being brought into the workplace at a much faster rate.
2. Resume parsing can also help improve the candidate experience. With increased efficiency and productivity in scanning and filtering resumes, the entire hiring process becomes much more streamlined—meaning more reliable communication with candidates too!
3. An overlooked benefit of a resume parser is that it eliminates any bias from the hiring process—even if it’s unintentional bias. A resume parser will only highlight those candidates with relevant keywords like skills and work experience. This leads to a more diverse hiring process.
4. With the advancement of technology, Applicant Tracking Systems have become an integral aspect of recruitment. Fortunately, many applicant tracking systems come with a pre-installed resume parser, providing an all-in-one solution for your needs. If you’re looking out for a resume parsing feature in an Applicant Tracking System, check out Recruit CRM’s software for recruitment agencies that offers a powerful resume parser that can parse up to 100 CVs at one go!

Resume Parsers Aren’t Perfect. Here Are 3 Disadvantages To Note

Even though resume parsers have improved significantly over time, there are still some minor drawbacks to consider for a smooth hiring process.

1. Resume parsers may have difficulty interpreting language and information. This is because language can vary among individuals and can become highly ambiguous for AI. For instance, a single word may have multiple meanings, or a date can be written in a different format, and the system may fail to recognise it.
2. It’s also likely for a resume parser to overlook a qualified candidate. Qualified candidates will have excellent resumes and applications; however, some missing details or keywords may let the perfect candidate fall through the cracks. Resume parsers also do not identify fancy fonts, creative formats, layouts and borders, which is a considerable flaw that may cost you the perfect candidate.
3. Another thing to consider is that candidates who pack their resumes with suitable keywords can often manipulate resume parsers. This kind of manipulation by candidates can make them appear as a better fit for the job as compared to a more deserving candidate.

Here’s What You Should Look Out For In A Resume Parser

Now that we’ve got the essence of resume parsers covered, here are some features and characteristics you should keep an eye out for if you’re considering a resume parser for your recruitment process.

• For starters, make sure your resume parser can parse resumes, applications and cover letters of all popular formats like HTML, PDF and DOC. This way, you won’t miss out on any important candidate information, despite the format. An added benefit would be choosing a resume parser that supports parsing in multiple languages. It’s also important to ensure that an effective resume parsing software must be smart enough to interpret the complex nuances of language.
• As mentioned before, most Applicant Tracking Systems come with a built-in resume parsing feature. Seeing that applicant tracking systems have become an integral part of recruitment, make sure that the parser you are selecting integrates seamlessly with your existing ATS has great functionality. An ATS with a robust parsing system improves the candidate experience, reduces hiring time, and cuts hiring costs.
• It’s also crucial to invest in a parser that focuses on keywords, which helps filter information more effectively. Advanced resume parsers in the market utilise artificial intelligence, deep learning, and machine learning to create a unique algorithm for improved data extraction for intelligent search results as you make your way through candidate resumes.
• The core purpose of a resume parser is to simplify and speed up the hiring process for recruiters; therefore, it’s important to invest in a resume parser that works at lightning speed for more productivity and a better candidate experience. Modern AI-enabled parsers take 1-3 seconds to process the most complex resumes. The system should collect the information with top-notch speed and accuracy. Resume parsing technology is a huge time saver by eliminating the initial screening level in much less time, reduces response time and interview processes, and ultimately fills open positions much more promptly!

Resume parsers are even expected to become more intelligent by extracting data from around the web like LinkedIn profiles. This is a huge step forward as the internet has become indispensable and is exploding with more and more information about people. Hence, resume parsers should be at the forefront of collecting this data and putting it into readable context for recruiters. Without a doubt, resume parsers are indeed a game-changer for recruiters.