Resume help needed.

41 Comments

1. Chantrice BurneyOctober 21,2023 at 5:11AM UTC

   I am in the same boat. Have you tried to add the job description of the listing on your resume? I just started trying this hack to beat the AI filters.

2. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 21,2023 at 5:35AM UTC

   That's not how it works. If you are in the US, there most likely are NO AI filters.

   I have experience with 7 or 8 different ATS and with different configurations of those systems.

   Here's what happens (on all the systems I've ever used) when a candidate applies to one of my open requisitions:

   I click on their name in the list of applicants for that requisition. Their resume has not been ranked. It has not been sorted for keywords. It has not been "scored". It has not been filtered.

   I click "download resume". It downloads in whatever form - Word doc or PDF - the candidate uploaded it. I look at their resume. With my eyeballs. Every single resume.

   Please don't waste your time trying to "outsmart" an electronic filing cabinet.

   There typically is no sorting involved with the application process - which is where keywords come in.

   Keywords are just skills or experience that we use in our search strings to find candidates (which is different than applying). Ideally, they should just be an organic part of a person's resume. Loading your resume up with words you think recruiters or hiring managers want to see may get someone to click on your resume but if the experience isn't there, it doesn't matter how many "key words" you stuff your resume with.

   There's no need for me to search by keywords for new applicants because you're sitting right there in the list of new applicants.

   There is no such thing as an "ATS compliant" resume no matter how much someone wants to charge you $1000 for one. There just isn't.

   It seems that most candidates don't want to hear this, but when you're being rejected, you're being rejected by a human.

   I'm the bot.

3. AnonymousOctober 22,2023 at 1:34PM UTC

   Actually there is an ATS compliant resume, but you don’t have to pay a resume writer or any fancy person to create it for you. People can simply do a google search and look up what what ATS compliant means. But since I’m not a gatekeeper, I’ll just give everyone insight:

   I have been in tech the last 4yrs and know quite a bit about the back end of these platforms. These systems are very simplistic in that if an applicant attempts to send a resume with hyperlinks, fancy font, photo, etc, it will most likely not even get to you(the recruiter, hiring manager, etc) depending on the software your company is using to sift through the applications coming through.

   The big recommendation is to use basic font- Times New Roman, Helvetica, Calibri, Arial, Tahoma or Garamond.

   Its also best to stick to the standard 12-point font on your resume.

   Use standard formatting. Nothing fancy. Many applicant tracking systems will convert your resume to a text-only file, meaning much of the fancy formatting you use will get lost.

   Use a more professional file name. For example use Jane-Doe-Marketing-Coordinator.pdf

   instead of JaneDoeResume23 or something.

   I hope this helps OP!! Sending good luck ? vibes!!!

4. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 22,2023 at 10:45PM UTC

   This is absolutely not true. First of all, we do not use software "to sift through the applications coming through." That's what I'm for. As I said above, I and every recruiter I know and networkj with look at every single resume that applies to our open requisitions. It's literally our job.

   Most applicants have some sort of hyperlink in their resume - either to their Linked In profile or to a portfolio or personal website - or depending on what they do - both.

   That does not stop their application - it may screw up the parsing of their resume in the profile that they are required to create in some ATS but that has nothing to do with the resume that I see in my requisition list.

   I always recommend applicants use the most boring formats possible, no columns or fancy tables, but that's to make it easier for them with parsing.

5. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 23,2023 at 1:47AM UTC

   YOU SAID: "Actually there is an ATS compliant resume"

   So what, specifically, is an ATS compliant resume in your opinion?

6. AnonymousOctober 24,2023 at 6:10PM UTC

   It’s not a matter of opinion, it’s a searchable fact. Depending on what system or software your organization uses, yes, parsing is probably the most common challenge when applicants are trying to submit fancy resumes. However, simply google ATS friendly resume and you’ll find a wealth of information and resources. Myself and many others made small changes to the way we applied and submitted our resumes and the amount of interviews and responses vastly improved. Just because your company does something one way doesn’t mean it is done that way everywhere.

7. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 24,2023 at 7:36PM UTC

   How, specifically, did you change the way you applied?

   How, specifically, did you change the way you submitted your resume?

8. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 21,2023 at 5:58AM UTC

   So, I can't tell you how many times I've had this conversation:

   ME: I love your background/experience but we're going to have to fix this resume

   CANDIDATE: But I just paid to have it professionally re-done

   I'm not saying there are no good resume writers - there are - but if you're paying someone good cash money to work on your res, I would strongly recommend they have recent recruiting experience. That is a job seeker's initial target audience. And there are tons of recruiters out of work right now doing this for free or very reasonable costs because recruiters have gotten creamed in the layoffs this last year.

   And a "certified resume writer" may not mean what you think it means. Any one you're paying - either a resume writer or a job coach - watch for red flags. Are they trying to make you sign a non-disparagement agreement to stop you from telling the truth if you don't get what you paid for? What is their refund policy? And I would never suggest you go into debt in any way to pay for any of this. There are many recruiters on Linked In dishing out advice every day for free.

   Your LinkedIn profile is a passive job search tool. IF a recruiter runs a search for someone with your experience and IF you show up in those search results and IF they click on your profile, they may reach out to you.

   Your resume is your most powerful job search tool - because it is a proactive tool. It's what you apply to jobs with.

   Personally, I think your LI profile should be a copy of your resume. I also don't agree with the advice I see about tailoring your resume to every single position. Unless you're applying for wildly different positions, I don't understand how/why you would be customizing your resume for every single position you apply for. Your experience is your experience. Who has that kind of time? Not me.

   If you really need to tailor every resume you’re submitting, then you probably need to narrow your search.

   What have you done so far in your job search? Where do you have your resume posted? How often are you updating those profiles?

   Do you have a degree? Are you utilizing your university's job board and/or alumni groups?

   Typically, if you're getting no response at all, it's either the resume or the positions you're apply to or both. Timing can be a factor and so can what you do - the tech space has gotten creamed in layoffs.

   Depending on how much experience you have, looking only for remote positions can be a heavy lift - you're decreasing the number of potential positions available to you and drastically increasing the competition. A job market like this is also not really a good time to transition.

   You don't say how long you have been looking or what you do but this job market can be a marathon, not a sprint.

   Please let me know if you have any questions.

   Good luck!!

9. Alison SchultzOctober 21,2023 at 7:08AM UTC

   This is incredibly good insight! Thank you!

10. AnonymousOctober 21,2023 at 4:01PM UTC

    does your resume/CV have your photo--and a Mission Statement???

    I've had several recruiters comment that they loved my CV because of the photo "and" my mission statement.

11. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 21,2023 at 6:11PM UTC

    If you are in the US, I would highly recommend you not include a photo on your resume as it will get your resume immediate discarded when applying to many companies:

    FROM A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH:

    "DO NOT include a resume photo in the following countries:

    United Kingdom

    Ireland

    United States

    The reasons for not including a professional photo on your resume in these countries is simple: strict anti-discrimination and labour laws. Companies must be able to prove that their hiring processes are free from any profiling based on race, gender, age, appearance, etc. So, out of precaution, they prefer not to see candidate photos accompanying job applications.

    Obviously there can be exceptions to this rule, such as the case of applying for modelling or acting jobs."

    I see you've referred to a "CV", so you may not be in the US - in other countries it's acceptable, but not recommended here.

12. TakihaOctober 23,2023 at 4:28AM UTC

    Hi Joan.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you!

13. AnonymousOctober 22,2023 at 2:00PM UTC

    Oh god, please no to both!

14. TakihaOctober 23,2023 at 4:25AM UTC

    Thank you!

15. TakihaOctober 23,2023 at 4:24AM UTC

    My resume does not have a photo...something to think about. Its definitely worth a shot. Thank you.

16. AnonymousOctober 22,2023 at 1:03PM UTC

    I am an Executive Search consultant with a private practice. It does very well and I am blessed way more than I deserve. I represent a very specific industry space and specialize in about 8-9 senior level positions in it. I make certain that when I present a candidate to my clients that that the resumes all look the same in terms of layout, font, bold vs. not bold, etc. In that regard, my "branding" does not come off like an old Holiday Inn tag sale. One of the things that I will NEVER send my clients is a resume that has any fluff, colors, visual optics, borders, boxes, etc. To me it comes across as "filler' and is either consciously or subconsciously intended as a distraction to compensate for good content or offset a weak background and/or a lack of relevant experience. I insist that all resumes are simple, in basic black and white, no fancy fonts (I usually use Calibri 11 or 12 point) and don't contain any of the fluff that has (in my opinion) absolutely NO value and is instead, a glaring detriment. I also make absolutely certain that there are no spelling or grammar mistakes and that what I send to my clients is flawless in that regard. I was a senior officer in a number of large corporate companies. Accordingly, I was a hiring manager on many occasions. Whenever I would receive such a resume, I would glance at it but right or wrong, was already prejudiced against it if it contained any of that optic nonsense. I wanted straight forward, no BS content. Something to consider. You may or may not agree. Good luck in your search nonetheless.

17. AnonymousOctober 22,2023 at 7:22PM UTC

    Oh, and by the way, I NEVER charge candidate's for redoing their resumes or anything else. (You definitely don't need to pay anyone to write your resume). Any (good) recruiter will do it with and for you.

18. TakihaOctober 23,2023 at 4:15AM UTC

    Sounds like I need to locate a recruiter here in Atlanta. Thank you!

19. TakihaOctober 23,2023 at 4:12AM UTC

    I have compared my resume to what you shared in your response and can already identify several actions I need to take to improve my resume. Thank you for your time and assistance.

20. ChrishoggOctober 22,2023 at 2:51PM UTC

    I don't know what you're doing wrong (of course) but the saying, "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me" comes to mind. If getting (and paying) others to craft these documents isn't working, then stop doing that and do something else.

    1) There is literally a ton of legitimate, no cost resources on the Internet / LinkedIn that you can access that will prove helpful. There is also much on the Internet / LinkedIn that is useless or worse than useless so you would be wise to ask someone you know, who has proven trustworthy, and who is knowledgeable in this area, to guide you, without charging you. This could be a person or an organization.

    2) About resumes, get to the library and check out the book The Job Closer by Dalton, especially Chapter 2.

    3) About LinkedIn, and how it works, subscribe to this linkedin.com/newsletters/thelinkedinguru-gazette-6693632635048091649/ and also to https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/keep-rocking-linkedin-6861407933788487680/

21. TakihaOctober 23,2023 at 4:07AM UTC

    Wow!!! Super insightful. Thank you very much.

22. PattiOctober 22,2023 at 4:43PM UTC

    Use your network in your job search....

23. TakihaOctober 23,2023 at 4:03AM UTC

    Thank you.

24. GirlBossanova520615October 22,2023 at 8:52PM UTC

    A LinkedIn without for industries you are targeting is just a profile, content is key. Show your interest in your industry and continuing to learn by engaging with your area at large.

25. TakihaOctober 23,2023 at 4:04AM UTC

    Ahh! This makes perfect sense. Thankyou.

26. TakihaOctober 23,2023 at 4:14AM UTC

    In the cover letter. I provided a brief description of cause of gap.

27. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 23,2023 at 5:38AM UTC

    Many recruiters - myself included - do not read cover letters. I recommend you include a short explanation - like "Family Leave" - on your resume.

    Please let me know if you have any quesitons.

    Good luck!

28. TakihaOctober 23,2023 at 4:17AM UTC

    Great advice! I just tried Kick Resume. It definitely looks more polished. Wish me luck....testing this resume out TONIGHT!!! :) Thanks.

29. TakihaOctober 23,2023 at 4:22AM UTC

    Hi Leslie,

    Thank you for your kind words. I am certain that success is waiting for me on the other side of this struggle. I will continue to forge ahead. :) Being proactive and engaged on LinkedIn is something that I have yet to do. I had no idea the gravity of the platform, but am quickly taking stock.

    Your response is definitely helpful and you are much appreciated. Thanks!

30. TakihaOctober 23,2023 at 4:28AM UTC

    Thank you.

31. AnonymousOctober 23,2023 at 12:41PM UTC

    Check your library-- they may have a program and resources to help you.

32. TakihaOctober 24,2023 at 2:51AM UTC

    Thank you!

33. Claire GardnerOctober 23,2023 at 1:34PM UTC

    Have you looked at companies that work with returners - they specialise in recruitment of people who have been out of the workplace for a while

34. TakihaOctober 24,2023 at 2:50AM UTC

    Hi Claire. I have not, but now I will. Thank you!

35. AnonymousOctober 23,2023 at 5:11PM UTC

    Nothing, You cannot just apply, you must connect and reach out to people directly and be vocal in your area of expertise. It's taking 9-12 months these days to find a new role even for those employed.

36. TakihaOctober 24,2023 at 2:49AM UTC

    Thank you!

37. Karen SpenceOctober 23,2023 at 5:56PM UTC

    Spend some time watching this guy's videos. He gives amazing advice on job searching.

    https://www.youtube.com/@ALifeAfterLayoff

38. TakihaOctober 24,2023 at 2:49AM UTC

    Very good advice Karen! He has tons of helpful content (great voice as too). Thank you.

39. EMILY KIKUE FRANKOctober 23,2023 at 6:53PM UTC

    I'm biased in favor of self-written resumes. You can get good tips on them on trusted sites like TealHQ, but as someone else mentions, you're a much stronger candidate if you also work to build relationships with people at your target companies. Don't just reach out to the hiring manager, but dig in and find people to connect with, and nurture those relationships. It shouldn't be a transaction, it should be a relationship.

40. TakihaOctober 24,2023 at 2:38AM UTC

    Thank you Emily. I totally agree.

41. TakihaOctober 24,2023 at 2:44AM UTC

    Hi Rachel! I appreciate your response and yes, I would like to take the offer to chat further. After reviewing the Woken website, I do feel a sense of guidance and a boost in my confidence level. Thank you.