The Black Hole of Any Job Search

And its ugly cousin

A key component of the new-age job search is ATS – applicant tracking software. This is where you submit your resume to an employers website and it’s scanned, reviewed and passed on or rejected automatically with little, if any, human intervention. And now in the past couple of years, ATS’s ugly cousin, AI, has invaded the scene.

One HR professional claims that his onboarding and hiring time is roughly two minutes per employee. Isn’t it nice of them to give you two minutes. Maybe that’s why one job seeker referred to the ATS process as “a black hole.” And AI doesn’t make it any better or easier.

The disease is spreading

Yet thousands of companies use ATS and AI – from small, start ups to Fortune 500 conglomerates. More than one company in eight actually have developed their own, proprietary ATS while most other companies purchase one of the hundreds of brands on the market. Of course, there are some companies that use one of the many free versions that are out there not to mention the various free versions of AI that are readily available.

No matter how you slice it and dice it, the non-human, machine-driven approach to applicant review is here to stay for at least the foreseeable future.

For the job seeker to successfully navigate this minefield of HR treachery. Whether it’s ATS or AI, one must learn to play their game. This includes mastering the art of the “keyword.”

One needs to become familiar with how different software view different keywords. For example, acronyms. Most ATS scanners can’t decipher an acronym – although some AI software can – so it’s a safe bet to write out the full name before inserting the acronym.

And don’t think that you can get away with the old ploy of trying to “keyword stuff” your resume. Almost without fail, this is a recipe for disaster. Most ATS are pre-programmed to recognize the keyword-stuffed resume and discard it. And AI will most likely recognize your attempts and flag the human element to beware.

If it sounds like a lot of work, it can be. But there are benefits. Some analysts claim that applicants who expertly use the automated systems can turn the tide on the electronic brains and triple t

heir chances of getting an interview.

More tips.