Applying for a new job? A human resources representative or hiring manager may not be the first to review your resume. Instead, it might be an AI-powered tool.
With some job postings attracting hundreds or thousands of applications, companies are increasingly using AI to sort through applicants before they reach a human recruiter. According to data from jobseeker resource site Resume Genius, 48% of hiring managers report using AI to screen resumes and applications, and the AI recruitment sector is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate of 6.1% between 2023 and 2030, according to the Society for Human Resources Management.
While companies have long been using applicant tracking systems (ATS) to parse resumes for skills and keywords, AI has the potential to further automate the process by “reading” resumes and applications to find suitable candidates.
But can that make it more difficult to guarantee a resume gets seen by a human? Experts say AI can benefit both recruiters and candidates by allowing applications to be “seen” in their entirety by the algorithm, reducing reliance on keyword-scanning methods that may penalize candidates for omitting specific words from their resumes.
Going beyond keywords
The practice of including keywords from a job posting in a resume isn’t new. For example, an applicant may put the coding languages Python or C++ on their resume for software engineering jobs that require those skills, ideally improving their chances of being picked up by automated systems.
But new AI tools can understand the content of a resume, meaning they can help spot candidates even if their resumes don’t mention certain words, said Madeline Laurano, chief analyst at Aptitude Research, an HR advisory firm.
“The AI providers take a skills-based approach,” said Laurano. “They’re saying, ‘We’re not using keywords on a resume. We want to be able to create more of a holistic picture and a full view of the individual, so we’re inferring skills.’”
The system can then provide hiring managers with a list of relevant candidates and rank them, which Laurano says benefits both hirers and recruiters by helping them save time.
The idea that automated tools just toss away resumes is a misconception, Nathan Soto, a career expert at Resume Genius, told CNN. Soto added that “most HR representatives or hiring managers say they still look at the resumes.” But hiring managers often need the help because they’re flooded with applications, some of which may be AI-generated.
“They have no choice but to use AI to sort through that stuff,” Soto said. “The sheer number of applications that they’re getting has been rising.”
Still, it’s important to remember the basics: Make sure the skills outlined on your resume match the job posting, and avoid complex visuals such as charts, columns or unusual fonts.
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Applying for a new job? A human resources representative or hiring manager may not be the first to review your resume.