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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.
When I was trying to land my first job in radio, I sent in my resume, waited … and nothing. Determined, I started hounding the program director. Finally, I scored an interview. I thought this was my big break — until the program director ghosted me. For three months, every single week, I called, emailed and sent letters. Crickets.
One day, the program director said, “OK, I’ll give you a shot.” That was all I needed. The funny thing? Years later, I married that program director.
🦸 Be a hero and use the icons below right now to share this important post with the job seekers in your life. This way, they’ll get a job and you can stop loaning them money.
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