Attack of the ATS

You may have felt like the hiring process these days is especially hard. Don't worry... you're not alone... and I hate to tell you, but you're right.

Many companies have struggled to match the influx of AI supported resumes and cover letters, as well as the overwhelming amount of applicants to jobs posted in popular job posting sites. It became both a timing game as well as a sheer luck situation. To see to this need, companies began jumping at the bit to provide an AI solution to an AI problem!

For some clarity, an ATS, or an Applicant Tracking System, is nothing new to hiring teams. It's a beautiful creature of technology that receives and stores applicants' information so that we have the ability to move on past the days of paper resumes and door knocking. What is new, however, is the incorporation of high-level AI technology into these ATS's that will help hiring managers filter out candidates by skill, keywords, and overall match status. On the hiring end, it's a life saver. Essentially, recruiters and hiring managers can now find YOU in the sea of applicants that aren't really qualified.

On the other end, however, we have overwhelming numbers of applicants because there are overwhelming numbers of folks looking for new jobs! We are shining the spotlight on the bad cultures, taking ownership of our own career, and taking care to make the right decisions for ourselves, even if it means leaving our stable careers. That alone deserves a hell yeah! But also... means we are all fighting for few positions left open at great companies.

So, this means that oftentimes, if your resume does not perfectly match the job description, or match it to near perfection, the ATS will actually reject you before your resume makes it in front of a real human! (Booo!)

So what do we do? It's unlikely that hiring managers will stop using this technology. After all, it is a remarkable tool for them! Below are my recommendations for meeting the systems (and the world) where we are:

1. Door Knock. I know, it sounds wild today- post COVID and high security- but you truly never know what just showing up at a company can bring you.
   

2. Overnight Your Resume Don't lie... you love getting fancy mail. Everyone does, even Hiring Managers. When you overnight your resume, SOMEONE will open it and it will be more likely to land on the desk of the right person. (This is a great tip from a great leader and mentor of mine had who's shown more than once that humanity is key in career success- thank you Steve Jones for all you do.)
   

3. Network, network, network. Maybe it's where you get your hair cut, or on an airplane, or maybe it's through LinkedIn. Everyone has different accessibility to networking, but it's there in some shape or form. Try being bold and a bit audacious. After all, you're worth it!

And of course, you're not alone. If you want help through the tricky process, sign up for a Discovery Call today!

Book Now!