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7 Resume Format Strategies to Beat the AI Within the ATS

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7 Resume Format Strategies to Beat the AI Within the ATS

What you will find in this blog:

You just found a role on an online job board and you are a perfect fit! You take time to fill out the application, every field, making sure the contents from your resume loads into the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) properly. 

This time, you know you will get a screening call, how can you not?

Then, less than 24 hours later, you get an automated “thanks for applying” email. How can that be? You tick every single box and requirement.

The hard truth is, it is not about your qualifications or work experience, sometimes the artificial intelligence (AI) within the ATS simply cannot identify that you are a great match. Frustrating, right? 

What can you do about it? Check out below for my seven strategies to beat the ATS AI and make sure a human sees your resume.

Why do companies use an ATS with AI?

While it is admittedly not a good applicant experience, so many companies have leaned into ATS tools with AI features. There are a number of reasons why, including:

  • The volume of applications received is an overwhelming amount and far too many for the HR team to parse through without assistance.
  • The AI within the ATS will rank applications giving the best matches first, reducing search time to fill the role.
  • Allows for simple and automated communication with candidates from one interface, streamlining the interview process and helping keep track of applicant status. This is especially valuable to recruiters at large companies with lots of roles to fill and hundreds of active applicants.
  • It allows the internal team to share notes and collaborate through the hiring process.

How do you get your resume seen when the AI is determined to only deliver top matches based on its algorithm?

7 Resume Format Strategies to Beat the ATS AI

1. File format
The first strategy to beat the ATS AI is to make sure your file format is easy for the system to read. That means only using a PDF or Word document. Please avoid Excel, PowerPoint, PNG, or other file types that will make it difficult for the AI to parse out your resume into the required fields.

2. Avoid fancy layouts
I know there are some really enticing looking resume formats available through online tools such as Word, Canva, and other document creation tools. So tempting. However, the tables, text boxes, columns, graphics, colors, and other layout features will turn your resume into gibberish in the ATS. If you want to beat the ATS AI, stick with a classic, one column design, and you are more likely to get through and have the information on your resume correctly separate out into various online application sections. 

3. Select an easy-to-read font
Yes! Even your font needs to be a standard option to be recognized by the AI used with ATS. The AI will have an easier time reading it, and once it gets to human eyes, recruiters will be able to simply skim your work history as well. Favorite fonts that I like to recommend are Ariel, Calibri, Times New Roman, Georgia, Helvetica, and Garamond. Choose one font for your entire resume.

4. Use bullet points
Take advantage of bullet points to break up work experience into easily digestible bites for the ATS AI. Use standard dot bullet points instead of symbols, wingdings, or icons. Icons can be especially troublesome within the ATS environment. 

5. Include exact keywords from the job post
This is where we kick it up a notch to beat the ATS AI and make sure your resume makes it through the system. Be sure to include exact keywords from the job post directly into your resume. So, instead of “project management tools,” include specific tools such as “Asana,” “Monday,” or whatever tool they are looking for with which you have experience. 

Yes, that likely means you will need to customize resumes for each application. Yes, that will take some time. However, there is no point in wasting time applying if you are just going to get filtered out by the AI within the ATS. Make the effort and you will see the results.

6. Include a skills section
Try including a “Skills” section at the top of your resume that directly reflects the skills listed in the job post. Again, you will need to customize this for each application, but it may help you get pushed to the top of the AI-compiled applicant list.

7. Avoid playful language
This is particularly hard if you are in a creative field, but if you want to beat the ATS AI, avoid playful language on your resume. It is not “My Path” or “How I Got Here,” it is “Experience.” It is not “What I Know,” it is “Skills.” It is not “Those College Dayz,” it is “Education.” You get what I mean. Keep it professional and simple on your resume.

Break through and beat the ATS AI

It can be frustrating to feel like you are a perfect match for a job and then get an automated rejection. The use of AI within ATS tools is not going away, so it is best to learn how to beat the system. By embracing these seven strategies, you can beat the ATS AI and make sure your resume is seen by human eyes.

Connect with me to learn how I can help you create a resume that will get through the ATS and make sure your application is getting seen by recruiters, not just filtered out by the AI.

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