[notsurenymore]

I’m not sure how accurate it is, but I started to play with jobscan to test my resume against ATS scanning. It was getting knocked for not having uselessly vague keywords like “business solutions” in the resume when they were in the job app, or not listing every single data format I’ve worked with. So now, I’ve just started keyword dumping my resume with everything in a job listing even though it feels stupid.

I doubt it matters much though. Even when I get passed the initial resume screen these days, it’s usually followed up with a “we’ve decided to pursue someone else” from the recruiter/hiring manager/etc. before I can even get to an interview. And that’s for jobs where my resume seems a perfect fit.

[obmelvin]

Hey, I've actually been wondering about this the last few days given linkedin shows high numbers of applicants for recently posted jobs. I have one main question - are you submitting multi-page resumes? I've been wondering if I should basically be submitting a CV for cold applications with a focus on resume scanning, and have a 1 page resume that I can send when communicating with real people

[notsurenymore]

I try to keep my resume to one page, it’s just old advice I love heard since I was a kid. I’m not sure if it’s still good advice though, I’ve seen suggestions that it’s a hold over from before online ATS systems were common.

I also try to keep the formatting simple in hopes that the parser has an easier time. I had a previous resume that had a slightly more complex layout that I thing compiled down to tables, but recently I’ve been using one with a simpler linear/hierarchical format.

I’ve also removed some stuff I used to have on there, such as contributions to open source projects. No one I’ve ever talked to has cared about that stuff, even when the market was easier, but I suspect that’s partly because the OSS stuff I’ve done is in a different domain from my professional career.

Right now, most rejections I get at the ATS stage don’t come till 2-3 weeks after the application.

[bluGill]

Your goal is to have enough keywords that the automated tools pass you onto the hiring manager. You can find these in the job description, so make sure all keywords that even somewhat fit are there (don't claim something you don't have! - that might get you an interview but will kill your chance even if otherwise you were fine).

The real goal is when a human reads your resume they decide to call you in for an interview. That human doesn't have time for your whole CV, so even though it might get you to that person, it won't get you an interview: forget about the cold applications to a program, you are just wasting the other person's time if you get past the machine. If you have a job only apply to jobs you have looked into enough to know they are worth accepting an offer if you get one. If you don't have a job you can't be as picky - but you have a lot more time to investigate potential companies and design a resume to get their attention.

So my advice as someone who might read your resume: read the job ad and then modify your resume to make it fit. Don't remove unrelated jobs, but make them a couple lines, while jobs where you did things more inline with what they want get more attention. I only glance at cover letters so I wouldn't recommend you spend much time on them. Note that the above is focused on me - others are different but I can only advise how to get my attention: you get to figure out how/if it generalizes.

Honestly, finding someone worth hiring is hard. I want to know if you can do the job and nothing about the process is very good there.