Page 5 – Komando.com

Looking for a job? How to get past ATS and hiring AI

I was talking with Joey, our new podcast producer, and he mentioned the tricks I pass along to get past the AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) help a ton of people.

Humans no longer filter resumes at most companies. It’s inefficient when AI can review over 100 resumes per minute.

For a while, you could get your resume past the ATS using the “white-font trick.” That’s where you’d put the actual job description in your resume or cover letter in white so it was hidden. A bot scanning it would say, “Wow, this person fits the bill!” Well, ATS caught on, and now, if you try the white-font trick, you’ll get penalized.

To get the job, you’ve gotta get past the AI

Here are seven steps to give your resume the best shot of eventually reaching human eyes.

1. Tailor your resume: Gone are the days of having one resume and sending it out to anyone and everyone. You need to adjust your skills, experience and keywords to match each job description for a better chance of passing the AI filters. Yeah, it’s a pain in the rear, but so is standing in the unemployment line.

2. Get specific: ATS looks for skill sets based on popular tools. Surefire winners: Project Management Professional (PMP) for a project management role, Google Analytics for digital marketing positions and HubSpot Inbound Marketing for anything marketing‑related.

3. Nothing fancy: Even if you’re good-looking like me (I saw you smile there), keep your photo off your resume. Also, don’t put your qualifications in a chart or table; AI will just zoom past it.

4. Be boring: Stick with recognizable headers like “Work Experience,” “Education” and “Skills.” AI systems are programmed to scan for these specific sections. If you list your hobbies, put down chess; apparently, it’s something AI likes to “see.” Just remember this in your interview, or you’ll be stuck between a rook and a hard place.

5. Use your verbs: AI loves it when you start sentences on your resume with action words like “achieved,” “developed” or “sold.” I hear these three words get especially high marks.

6. Check your LinkedIn: Many applicant tracking systems cross-reference your resume to what you’ve posted on LinkedIn. Your employment dates, titles and skills there should match what’s on your resume; otherwise, into the virtual trash your resume goes.

7. Use online tools: Jobscan and ResumeWorded compare your resume to the job posting and spot any gaps that wouldn’t pass most ATS scans. Both offer a free trial.

Continue reading →

A New Jersey family is living a nightmare

It started back in September. Dan in Bridgewater, New Jersey, had his bank account hacked. Their first step was to withdraw money and apply for a loan. In October, he got a letter from TD Bank notifying him of an address change on his account.

Continue reading →

Protect your docs and photos from fire

Here’s a real-time map of where fires are burning. I pray you and your loved ones are safe. Whether or not you live in California, it’s a good reminder to get your important stuff put into safe storage. I did this last year.

This floor safe ($398) protects your valuables from fire and water. It bolts down, too, so thieves can’t grab it and zip outta there.
For a more affordable and portable option, check out this $64 safety box.
This document bag can handle temps up to 5,200 degrees.
A document folder (18% off) is small, easy to carry and easy to tuck away. Plus, it’s under $15 right now!
This fireproof hanger bag (29% off) hides your valuables under your clothes while keeping them safe from disaster.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

👍👎 AI can’t read your mind: Use “do” and “don’t” in your prompts to get the results you want. Say you’re cooking for friends, and some have allergies. Say, “Create a recipe for six people. Do include protein, fruits, vegetables and carbs. Don’t include dairy products, shellfish or nuts.” Easy-peasy.

Lights, camera, AI: Johnny Depp says scammers are using AI to fake his voice and attempting to steal cash and personal info. He told his Instagram followers he’s not on X, Snapchat or Discord, so anyone claiming to be him is a fake. Reba McEntire and Kelly Rowland are targets, too. If your idol wants your money, it’s a scam.

Wipe your mouth! There’s a tiny amount of BS on your lips: The FCC approved a “U.S. Cyber Trust Mark” label for smart devices that meet their cybersecurity standards. No word on criteria yet, but expect rules around data privacy, regular updates and issue detection. Most internet-connected devices qualify … but not computers and phones, which we all use all the time.

Speed up your phone in 2025

Open/download audio

Overwhelmed by cluttered apps and storage-hogging files? With a few simple steps, you can tidy up your phone and reclaim space. Let’s get started.

$900,000 watch

On Zuck’s wrist when he announced Meta went MAGA and put an end to fact-checking. He was wearing the Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1; only a few are made each year. His collection includes a $90,000 De Bethune, a $141,000 Patek Philippe and a $12 Seiko. Next week, I’ll wear my favorite watch on my podcasts and show it to the camera. Spoiler: It’s a Rolex a big daily TV host wears, too.

Gravy train derailed: Hackers breached data broker Gravy Analytics and got their hands on the location info of millions of people. They also named companies who bought their data, like Uber, Comcast, Apple and Equifax. Last month, the FTC went after Gravy for selling sensitive location data. This is why I use Incogni. They remove you from databases like this.

⭐ Gold star: You take a picture, thinking, “Wow, this is a winner,” and you never see it again. In your photo app, look for the heart or star icon. This adds an image to your favorites. It works with your music apps, too.

So you want to get up earlier: Instead of relying on self-control, disable the snooze option altogether on your phone. All you need to do is tap on an alarm in the Clock app. Toggle off the Snooze option. Rise and shine!

Butt out, Big Tech: Sick of Gmail’s tracking? Your ISP does it, too, if you use their email. StartMail is my pick for privacy-first email. It’s super easy to switch over your contacts and mail. Save 60% with my special link.

ADT hides a cyberattack

Open/download audio

Hackers got into ADT’s systems, stealing customer info, and they waited months to tell anyone. Plus, why cash apps aren’t safe, Roblox’s kid safety problems, and flip phones making a comeback.

Saving car rental evidence: My pal Clark Howard always recommends taking pictures of a rental car before you drive away from the lot to prevent false damage claims. But when is it safe to delete them? Clark suggests keeping them for two months. Subscribe to Clark’s free newsletter to receive more must-have money tips every day.

📈 Turn your text into visuals: Napkin.ai turns words into flowcharts, infographics and diagrams. Just paste your text and click the lightning icon to generate a few options. Pick one you like, make tweaks and hit Export. FYI, all their plans are free while it’s in beta, but you may have to deal with some bugs. Triple-check numbers if you’re using this for work.

6 pages

Length of Amazon memos. Keeping it short speeds up decisions. AI robotics startup Swiss-Mile followed suit when they pitched to Jeff Bezos in April. He gave them $22 million for testing delivery bots in Zurich. Less is more.

The apple of my lie: Apple Intelligence is messing up news summaries. Phony notifications include tennis star Rafael Nadal coming out as gay and Israel’s Prime Minister being arrested. The BBC says it’s hurting the credibility of news outlets. Always read past the headlines!

Best wildfire app: I’m praying for everyone in California near the wildfires. I went looking for the best source for folks dealing with wildfires and found the nonprofit Watch Duty. I talked with CEO John Mills after reading their story. They’re totally volunteer-run and deliver real-time updates across 13 states. Get their app on iPhone, Android or in your browser.

🚘 Someone’s always watching: Some 150 automated license plate recognition cameras in a dozen cities leaked real-time video to anyone with internet access. Only law enforcement was supposed to see them. Motorola makes most of the cameras and says it’s now rolling out firmware updates to fix this mess. Too little, too late.

This is so very sad: Open AI CEO Sam Altman’s sister, Ann, filed a lawsuit saying he sexually abused her during their childhood. This allegedly started when she was just three years old, lasting from 1997 to 2006. Sam and his family say Ann suffers from mental health issues and she’s made untrue claims before. Here’s Sam’s full statement on X.