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The resume mistakes that will get you instantly rejected by employers as 99% of Fortune 500 companies use AI as a screening tool
Gone are the days of creating a resume to impress human eyes.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in HR operations means your resume has to get past automated scanning and filtering before it even reaches someone’s inbox.
These AI-powered Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by Fortune 500 companies and smaller companies around the world.
A 2019 study found that three out of four resumes have never been seen by anyone. A whopping 99 percent of Fortune 500 companies use bot application filters and about 83 percent of all companies.
To get your resume past the AI bots, be smart and avoid these nine mistakes:
Gone are the days of creating a resume to impress human eyes. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in HR operations means your resume must first get past automated scanning and filtering
Photos are no go
Resume scanning AI systems process text.
Listing your critical skills and qualifications in an image is likely to be ignored.
All major elements of your resume should be in text format. While infographics are attractive, they have no place on your resume.
Keywords are, well, key
Just as search engine optimization (SEO) works to make websites stand out, ATS looks for specific keywords related to the job opening in resumes.
If you don’t have keywords from the job description in your resume, it will get low match scores.
Make sure you use words in the ad for the open position on your resume, but not too much…
Crowded keywords
Some candidates try to fool the AI by stuffing their CV with keywords.
The AI is trained to discard these resumes.
Here’s a rule of thumb. For each previous job title listed on your resume, include two or three keywords related to the job you’re applying for.
Layout is important
Multiple columns, images, or unusual alignment can confuse these systems.
Your resume should have a clean, simple layout with standard margins and clear headings for each section.
Consistency in formatting your resume is crucial. Properly use bullets, headers, and tables.
Inconsistent or fancy designs can confuse the AI, causing critical information to be overlooked and your resume ignored.
Don’t use fonts to stand out
Using “creative” fonts may seem like a great way to stand out, but they can confuse automated systems. These fonts are good for ATS readability:
- Times New Roman: A traditional choice for resumes.
- Arial: A sans-serif font that is well suited for digital screens.
- Calibri: The default font for Microsoft Word.
- Helvetica: A popular sans serif font.
- Georgia: A font specially designed for screen readability.
Keep in mind that robots don’t find you funny
AI isn’t the best with sarcasm or flowery language. They are designed to search for specific keywords and precise information.
Pay attention to your job titles
For example, if your job title was “Creative Product Evangelist”, AI may not be able to know that this is really a “Marketing Manager”.
It is best to mention ‘Marketing Manager’ on your CV. Be clear and concise about your experience and skills, and don’t assume that the algorithm scanning your resume will know you did X, Y, or Z because of a job title.
Using an incorrect file type:
This can be an easily overlooked detail. Some ATS platforms may have problems reading resumes in specific file formats. It’s best to use common formats like .docx or .pdf.
Provide no context
Don’t post a list of accomplishments without any context. AI won’t be able to interpret it. For example, instead of saying, “Sales increased by 20 percent,” say, “Implemented a new marketing strategy that increased sales by 20 percent in one quarter.”