You’ve changed your color scheme and cut down on the clutter, then added half a dozen new bells and whistles to your recruitment software. You’ve spent untold dollars on PR, and got your name out to everyone who might need your service. Somehow, there is still no traction, and even the few users you managed to scrounge up don’t seem excited about your service.

Maybe you are barking up the wrong tree.  If you’re serious about improving your CX, there’s one thing you need to prioritize. A resume extractor.

What is a resume extractor?

A resume extractor, also known as a resume parser, is a piece of computer software that extracts data from a CV and rewrites it in a format computer programs can understand.  What this means for your users is no more redundant forms, no more mind numbing data entry. They’ll be able to bulk process CVS with the click of a button, then see the appropriate fields within your job board or software automatically populate with relevant data. Tasks like comparing each application against the job description, screening candidates, or redacting bias-inducing data become automatic when you have a resume extracting tool in place.

Data categories from an extracted resume file may include:

  • Skill set
  • Job Titles
  • Job Experience
  • Contact Details
  • Education
  • Past Organisations Worked at
  • Length In Roles

If there’s one thing users hate, it’s being obliged to put in more work than necessary and do repetitive, never-ending tasks a computer could do just as well. Streamlining your product by incorporating a resume extractor takes all the grunt work out of your offering.  It’s a sure-fire way to improve your customer experience, and those who’ve taken the plunge tell us it makes a night-and-day difference when compared to an old-school system.

Still wondering if it’s worth the cost and hassle? Well, here’s a stat that may help. 92% of companies that improved their customer experience saw an uptick in customer loyalty, and 84% say an increase in revenue. Giving your customers what they want always pays off, no matter how inconvenient it might be for you.

But it doesn’t have to be inconvenient. A well-written resume extractor is designed to function behind the scenes and play nicely with an applicant tracking system (ATS) and it’ll be just as easy to integrate it into your software. Here’s what the process looks like.

How to Integrate a Resume Extractor into Your Software

A well-supported resume extractor will have client libraries available in a variety of programming languages. For instance, Affinda maintains open source libraries at GitHub in four programming languages:

You’ll need to apply for an API key, but if you’re not ready to commit yet no problem: they’ll give you a free key just to experiment. Through documentation, complete with code samples, tells you exactly how to call up which commands.

What Does the Best Resume Extractor Look Like?

But how do you know which resume extractor is the best? There are good resume parsers out there, but let’s be honest: not everything you’ll find online is equal to the job.  We recommend you thoroughly test a few options – say, with 100+ resumes– before you commit to any one API. But while you’re shopping, here are a few things you’ll want to look for.

High Uptime

Maybe this is a no-brainer, but no-one wants to integrate software that maybe works part of the time. Great resume parsing software should have a reliable engine behind it that works as close to 100% of the time as humanly possible.

Leverages The Power Of Machine Learning

There’s template based resume software, and there’s  more advanced software that is based on deep learning and artificial intelligence. It’s not hard to see which is better.  The best extraction tools use machine learning with advanced learning algorithms that allow the software to learn from mistakes and improve in accuracy over time. Many also feature artificial intelligence (AI) that enables the CVs to be read as they were written, picking up on various types of terminology.

Doesn’t Require ATS-Friendly Resumes

Some parsers can only detect information presented in a specific resume format, or maybe half a dozen formats. They rely on CVs all being written he same way and cannot adapt if the structure varies. You don’t know what kind of resumes your clients will be uploading, so look for a more advanced tool that is flexible enough to be able to read any type of candidate resume and turn mismatched CVs into a neat candidate database.

Offers High Data Security

When you’re dealing with resumes you’re managing a large amount of confidential information. Effectively manage risk by choosing a resume extractor that focuses on data privacy. Look for a data extraction product that is internationally compliant so that no matter where you’re parsing resumes, the privacy and data of applicants is protected.

Used at Enterprise Level

If you’re investing good money in a product, you want to know that it’s a reliable, reputable tool that will be able to handle whatever you throw at it. When you find something already used at enterprise level, you’ll know that it can manage large amounts of data processing and has already passed enterprise-level procurement processes with other organisations.

Reasonably Priced

Is the data extraction software you are looking up affordable, and how will prices change when your product scales up the way you want to? Great software doesn’t have to swallow up your profit margins, so find a pricing scheme you can live with.

Great Support Staff

If you’re stuck with a question, are running into a malfunction or need a custom solution you want support staff that are accessible, friendly, and fully knowledgeable about both their software and its integrations.  Find something that has five star customer service you can count on.

Affinda’s Resume Extractor

One option that ticks all the boxes is Affinda’s resume extractor. Our robust CV parsing software is built on all the newest advances in AI, and it performs well even when fed the most untraditional of resumes.

Our pricing scheme is affordable for both small businesses and large enterprises.  But maybe what sets us above the crowd is our friendly, super-knowledgeable support staff that love helping old clients and new customers. Whether they’re walking you through a integration or helping you design a customization that fits your use case, the Affinda support team always seems to be excited about what they’re doing.

Integrating a resume extractor into your software is a no-brainer, but we understand that choosing the best option is a big decision. Give us a call if you’d like to chat about how Affinda can help you reach your goals, or browse the website for more information.

‍