Modern "Chicken and egg" problem for job seekers

"So, wait, do resumes even matter?" - that was the question I had been pondering after conducting my own research through YouTube and countless blogs. Prior to this research of mine, numerous job consultants and reverse recruiters battered me with the importance of personal style and creativity when it comes to the resume. Some said that downloading your LinkedIn profile as a PDF is enough, whereas others argued that the "structure" and the "meatiness" (whatever that is) of a resume matter most. The latter ones also propose a lot of resume builder services, that (allegedly) would create a resume to "blow away" any recruiter. Yet, none of the sources mention the importance of ATS in resume creation, despite numerous YouTube videos highlighting this critical aspect. Additionally, seeing how my colorful resume wasn't compatible with Google's ATS got me thinking. Thinking big: what actually lands you the job - a state-of-the-art resume or a master's degree in ATS? Well, it's neither and both at the same time.

When you dive deeper into the topic of Applicant Tracking Systems, numerous questions arise. Do you need a photo on your resume? Should it be built around resume keywords or just be readable? Many services claim to adapt your resume for seamless ATS compatibility, yet often, job seekers find themselves at a crossroads. What sells you better? Is it memorable and creative, or is it dry and to the point?

Let's define the terms first - what are Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and how are they used? ATS are software applications that assist organizations in managing their recruitment processes by automating the tracking of job applications. They streamline the hiring process from job description posting to onboarding, ensuring efficient management of candidate information and interactions. Popular ATS like Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, or Jobvite offer extensive functionalities such as candidate relationship management, recruitment marketing, social recruiting, AI-powered resume screening (ooh, scary [or is it?]), and detailed reporting. These systems help recruiters optimize their hiring strategies, make somewhat informed decisions, and try to make the recruiting process as smooth as possible (for them). Let’s spill the beans on several myths regarding the ATS:

ATS Uses AI to Auto-Reject Resumes:

Many believe that ATS software uses advanced AI algorithms to automatically reject resumes that don’t meet specific keyword or formatting criteria. This leads to the misconception that only perfectly ATS compliant resumes can make it through the ATS. In reality, most ATS do not use sophisticated AI to auto-reject resumes. Instead, they help organize and store resumes for human recruiters to review. The primary function of an ATS is to assist in the management of large volumes of applications and streamline the search process.

ATS Optimization Services Are Essential:

Some career coaches and services promote the idea that you need their expertise to optimize your resume for ATS systems. They claim that without their services, your resume has little chance of being seen by a human recruiter. In the matter of fact, everything is a bit simpler - you just need to make sure that the ATS parses you resume correctly.  And the answer to “how am I supposed to do that?” (surprise surprise ) -  keep it simple. Avoid using images, icons, columns, and other complex resume formatting elements. Using a clean, straightforward layout helps ensure that all your information is correctly interpreted by the system .

Thus, we can see that ATS does not make any final decisions - HR professionals are still the last point of defense, and they are reviewing up to 500 resumes per day for the companies you want to work for. And, in contrast with the automatic resume screening systems, they are prone to make human errors and have diminishing attention spans. So when you are making your resume super creative, with a lot of happening on the page (takes a lot of time to digest) two of the things are likely to happen:

• Your resume probably won’t be very readable and won’t pass through the screening system (which will put you at the end of the queue)
• An exhausted HR is not ready to deal with your "Sistine Chapel" and skips most of the content, as they have hundreds of others to review by the end of the day.

So, when you’re balancing between crafting a memorable, creative resume and a straightforward, digestible one—if you lose balance, lean toward simplicity. What do I mean by that? Imagine yourself in the hiring manager's shoes and think about how much you'd appreciate reading an easily digestible resume. Additionally, this helps you highlight the aspects YOU believe are crucial for the job you're applying to. It goes without saying that we all value different skills, so it's crucial to find an employer who values your specific skills. Two job listings with the same title might want completely different candidates, so when you are creating your resume, always highlight the things you believe are important for the position. As we have discussed earlier, the amount of effort that it takes to read a resume is important. Here are our resume creation tips on how to make this process smooth and efficient for the recruiter.

Divide Your Resume into Easily Readable Blocks

Structuring your resume into clear, distinct resume sections such as Contact Information, Professional Summary, Work Experience, Education, Skills, and Certifications makes it more readable. Use headings and subheadings to make each section stand out, which helps both ATS and recruiters quickly find the information they need.

Readability is key

Use a clean, professional font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in a font size between 10 and 12 points. Bullet points can help list job responsibilities and achievements clearly. Avoid complex resume formatting, tables, or graphics, as these can confuse both recruiters and ATS software. Aim for a concise resume, ideally one (or two for the veteran Jobbers) page long.

Include Keywords

Identify relevant resume keywords from the job description and incorporate them naturally into your resume, especially in the Professional Summary, Work Experience, and Skills sections. Keywords such as "project management," "data analysis," "customer service," "strategic planning," and "team leadership" can help your resume get past ATS filters.

Add Your Work Experience

Detail your work experience with job titles, company locations, and dates employed. Describe your responsibilities and achievements with a focus on those relevant to the job you’re applying for. Keep them very brief, but don't forget to quantify your accomplishments where possible, such as “increased sales by 20%” or “managed a team of 10.”

Use a Business Format

A professional format is essential. Ensure your resume is easy to scan with a clear hierarchy of information. Use bold text for job positions and section headers, and keep the document to one page if possible. Space the content well to avoid clutter and ensure it is easily digestible.

Keep in mind that even though some of our advice aims to help with ATS, the main focus should still be on the human reviewing your resume. They are making the final decision. "But hey, man! What about those scary AI-powered ATS systems? Shouldn't we discuss them?" Well, we kind of did. Most of the AI system-based ATS will still learn from the human patterns of response and given the fact that only a small number of them are currently operating in the market, I think it's safe to say that you still would need to pass the "Human test". As for the other screening functions of the ATS, we would only suggest using one of the resume screeners. It will show how easy it is to read the information on your resume for the ATS and also highlight the potential problems that might arise, given the format that you are currently using. One of such screeners is actually closer than you think. By creating an account on joblinx you can upload your resume and our AI Career Assistant will analyze it for you for free.

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