Welcome to today’s episode, where we pull back the curtain on one of the most important and misunderstood steps in the modern job search: making sure your CV or resume is ready to beat the bots.

If you have ever applied for a job and never heard back, you are not alone. In fact, only about 15% of resumes ever make it past the artificial intelligence-driven applicant tracking systems (ATS) and into the hands of a real human recruiter. Today, we are giving you step-by-step instructions to ensure your resume is one of the lucky few.

What is Behind the Curtain

We start by demystifying how ATS works. Why? Because if your resume doesn’t contain the right terms, it is likely to be filtered out before anyone ever reads your story. We walk you through exactly how recruiters identify the keywords when they post a job. You will learn how to analyze a job description, spot the must-have skills and qualifications, and strategically incorporate them into your resume without overdoing it or misrepresenting your experience.

We outline how to strike the balance between being explicit about your achievements and ambitions, while making sure your resume tells a clear, compelling story.

Why Formatting Matters to Bots

And if you want to beat the bots, the format of your resume matters, too. For example, some PDF versions can’t be read by ATS. We discuss how to choose the right file type, why a simple format is important, and how to avoid design elements that could confuse ATS and cost you an interview.

Soft Skills Matter Too

While it is tempting to focus on technical abilities, we outline why it is important to highlight soft skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and other interpersonal strengths. The best resumes balance hard and soft skills, painting a full picture of who you are as a professional.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear, actionable roadmap for creating a resume that not only passes the AI test but also impresses the humans on the other side. Let’s get started!

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