Resume mistakes that can cause employers to immediately reject you because of AI
Gone are the days when resumes were made to impress the human eye.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in HR operations means your resume needs 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 corporations and smaller corporations around the world.
A 2019 study found that three out of four CVs have never been seen by anyone. A whopping 99 percent of Fortune 500 companies use bot utility filters, and about 83 percent of all corporations.
To get your resume in front of AI bots, be good and avoid these 9 mistakes:
Gone are the days when resumes were made to impress the human eye. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in HR operations means that your CV needs to get past automated scanning and filtering first.
Photos are not suitable
Resume text content scanning for AI programs.
Showing your important knowledge and {qualifications} in the image may be ignored.
All the main parts of your CV should be in text content format. While infographics are engaging, they have no place on your resume.
Keywords, rightly so, are the key
Just as search engine marketing (SEM) works to make websites stand out, ATS appears to have specific key phrases associated with job openings on resumes.
If your resume is missing key phrases from the job description, it may get low relevance scores.
Make sure you use the opening phrases in your CV ad, but not too much…
Overstuffed key phrases
Some candidates try to fool the AI by stuffing their CV with key phrases.
AI is adept at churning out those resumes.
Here is a rule of thumb. For each past job title listed on your resume, include two or three key phrases related to the job you’re applying for.
Layout is very important
Multiple columns, photos, or unusual alignment can confuse these programs.
Your resume should have a clear, simple format with normal margins and clear headings for each section.
Consistency in formatting your resume is essential. Use bullets, headings and tables correctly.
Inconsistent or contrived designs can confuse the AI, causing it to miss important data and ignore your resume.
Don’t use fonts that face each other
BONUS TIP
Don’t make your resume too short or too long. Targeting one to two web pages is common. Here are the details based mostly on your career stage:
● Entry-level positions: If you’re a graduate or just starting out in your profession, use a one-page resume of around 300-400 phrases.
● Mid-level professionals: For professionals with several years of work experience, a resume can be two pages long with 500-700 phrases.
● Senior Professionals/Executives: Those with advanced knowledge or in leadership positions can extend their resume to more than two pages, but no more than 1,000 phrases.
Using “creative” fonts may seem like a good way to go, but they will confuse automated programs. These fonts are suitable for ATS readability:
- Times New Roman: A common choice for resumes.
- Arial: A sans serif font that is properly adapted to digital screens.
- Calibri: Microsoft Word’s default font.
- Helvetica: A popular sans serif font.
- Georgia: A font specifically designed for display screen readability.
Keep in mind that bots don’t find you humorous
AI is not one of the best with sarcasm or flowery language. They are designed to search for specific key phrases and precise data.
Pay attention to your job titles
For example, if your job title is “Creative Product Evangelist,” the AI might not know that it’s actually “Marketing Manager.”
It’s best to list “Marketing Manager” on your resume. Be clear and concise about your expertise and experience, and don’t assume that an algorithm scanning your resume will know that you probably did X, Y, or Z because of the job title.
Using the wrong file arrangement:
It could simply be an overlooked element. Some ATS platforms may have problems examining CVs in specific file codecs. It is best to use common codecs like .docx or .pdf.
Do not provide context
Don’t list accomplishments without context. The AI couldn’t interpret it. For example, as an alternative to saying, “Sales increased by 20 percent,” say, “We implemented a new marketing strategy that increased sales by 20 percent in one quarter.”
