Let’s be honest: most cover letters are never read. If your application goes through an ATS, there’s a 70% chance your cover letter won’t even be parsed. And if it does get through? The recruiter might spend 6 seconds skimming it. So why write one at all? Because in the right situations, a well-crafted cover … Read more
You’ve optimized your resume for the ATS. But did you know that recruiters use ATS systems to scan LinkedIn profiles too? When recruiters search for candidates on LinkedIn, they’re using the same keyword-matching algorithms that filter resumes. If your profile isn’t optimized, you’re invisible—even if you’re the perfect candidate. Key Takeaways LinkedIn = Searchable Resume: … Read more
Don’t let your resume slip up on formatting errors. Key Takeaways Aesthetics vs. Mechanics: Robots don’t care about your design; they care about text structure. The Column Trap: Dual columns often scramble reading order, mixing work history with contact info. The Fix: Prioritize “Format Hygiene” over visual flair to survive the ATS scan. You spent … Read more
Key Takeaways The Reality: ATS algorithms prioritize “Hard Skills” (Nouns) over “Power Words” (Verbs). The Mechanism: An Applicant Tracking System is a matching engine, not a human reader. The Solution: You must balance human readability with robotic keyword optimization. Career coaches have been repeating the same mantra for twenty years: “Start every bullet point with … Read more
Key Takeaways The 6-Second Myth: Recruiters don’t see your resume first; an algorithm ranks it in 0.02 seconds. Parsing Errors: Fancy columns and graphic elements turn your experience into unreadable gibberish. Weighted Keywords: Generic verbs score zero points. Hard skills drive your ranking. Stop obsessing over your font choice. Ignore the “aesthetic” advice from graphic … Read more
In the modern job market, your resume isn’t just for human eyes. Before a recruiter ever sees your application, it’s scanned, parsed, and ranked by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). These algorithmic gatekeepers are designed to filter out the majority of applicants, making it crucial to understand how they “think.” This guide will walk you … Read more