The way we search for jobs is changing. Long gone are the days of simply writing a resume and submitting it to an applicant tracking system and hoping to get a response. Now, due to AI, your resume must include certain items to get through the system and on to a Recruiter. Experience and education must be presented in the right manner to get through the Applicant Tracking System.
The New Reality of Hiring
As we all know, AI is changing the way we do things. From social media to job search, AI is speeding things up faster than ever. It is now embedded in hiring processes across most industries. With the unstable labour market, we are experiencing that Recruiters and Hiring Managers are receiving hundreds to thousands of applications for a single role.
How it works
Organizations rely on AI to scan resumes for relevant keywords and phrases, rank candidates based on alignment with the job posting, and to filter out applicants who don’t meet specific criteria. You can be the most qualified candidate in the pool, but if your application doesn’t get past the AI screening process, you may not be noticed.
How to get your resume unstuck
Some of the challenges that professionals are facing with their resumes include long resumes (more than 2 pages), terminology that is outdated, and too much focus on responsibilities rather than measurable results. And these can affect whether your resume gets seen at all.
To adapt your resume, consider the following:
- Present your experience strategically, not stripping away experience, but rather showing what can be done for the job you are applying for. Put the most relevant items on the resume; the rest can be discussed at the interview.
- Highlight going back 10 years on your resume. If you have experience that is longer, go back to a maximum of 15 years.
- Use the job terminology and phrases in the job posting.
- Show your impact, think metrics, outcomes, and contributions.
- Keep formatting plain, no graphics, colours, pictures, just plain text.
- Your summary at the top should be geared towards the role and how you can bring impact to the role.
Finally, if you are going to use AI to write a resume, do not use it to write the entire resume. Use it if you are stuck on a phrase and aren’t sure how to write it. Use it to identify missing keywords, refine bullet points, and to modernize language.
Remember when submitting a resume, some things haven’t changed, such as results matter more than responsibilities, clarity beats complexity, relevance outweighs history, and relationships still open doors. Developing relationships and networking continues to be one of the most effective ways to land opportunities.
Jennifer Bouley is a Career Development Practitioner located in St Stephen. She has a passion for helping others find wellness in their careers, while finding fulfilling jobs. Jennifer can be reached at blissplusyou@gmail.com.
