How to Write Your Resume for a Cyborg to Read It

AIs are filtering through resumes before they ever get in front of a real set of eyes. How do you write your resume so that it won't get rejected by either?

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) pattern-match. Content that appears in the job description should also appear on your resume. This means skills, software names, and years of experience. Do the pattern-matching yourself first to make sure they are as alike as possible. But try to write it less like a list of skills and software and closer to complete sentences.

Just assume that once it gets in the hands of a real recruiter or hiring manager, they aren't going to read your resume very closely. They are going to be scanning it, at least at first. They might read it a little more deeply once they're interested, but you have to get them there first. Your resume is an advertisement, a marketing document for your skills and experience. Make it easy for them to get the gist just by scanning it. Front-load your accomplishments at the top of each position you've held. Add numbers to put your accomplishments in context.

Example:

Job description:

Design and develop curriculum and instructional content for learners

Develop training in multiple formats including virtual training

Your resume:

Designed 50 hours of sales instructional content in multiple formats including interactive courses and facilitator guides for 180 learners

Developed a virtual customer service training simulation for employees that decreased customer complaints by 30%

Designed and built new hire onboarding curriculum using multiple formats that increased learners first 30 days production speed by 25%