Have you ever wondered why your resume gets ignored? Well, the answer might surprise you. In fact, after conducting my own research, I was pretty surprised to discover some of the main reasons why recruiters place some resumes in the reject pile.
So, what are those reasons? And, how can you avoid these pitfalls in the future? Well, let’s take a look at the first question before we come up with some quick fixes you can do to stand out this fall.
Why Is Your Resume Being Rejected?
Many people are asking this question at the moment, especially when the majority of advertised jobs receive an average of 250 resumes. And if that doesn’t sound dismal enough, recent data suggests that the majority of recruiters spend only 6-7 seconds reviewing those resumes. And to top it all off, almost 75% of those resumes get completely blocked by an application tracking system (ATS) before a human ever gets the chance to see them. This is disastrous. It’s no wonder that you’re feeling overwhelmed and frustrated at the moment. It’s nearly impossible to secure an interview, let alone a job offer.
So, how do some people succeed in this professional maze? Well, that’s what I hope to teach you in this article. If you’re tired of sending out 500 resumes and hearing crickets, I hope that this post gives you a bit of hope, or at least an action plan.
Now, I’m not guaranteeing that you’ll find a job by next week with this advice. Still, I believe that if your resume continues to be ignored, these three fixes will actually help you gain attention and make a positive impression on potential employers.
So, are you ready? Perfect. Let’s get you on the yellow brick road and off to see the Wizard who can offer you a job!
Stand Out By Showcasing What Makes You Different
This is your time to shine without apology. Look, I get it. You want to make a tremendous first impression and show yourself as humble and a team player. But, here’s the thing. Your resume is not a group sport. It’s a solo endeavor. And that means that you, my friend, need to position yourself as the superhero of your own story.
So, think of this as your spotlight moment of fame. It’s all about you at this point. But don’t stay in this mindset for long, because you won’t get the interview by bragging about how you saved Gotham City. Recruiters want to understand how your skills align with the company’s needs. That means your resume needs to be tailored to the specific objectives of the business. Which leads us to our next tip: Make every resume responsive and relevant to each company.
Treat Each Resume Like You’re Dating Only One Person
No one wants to feel like they’re just one of many. And this is true in dating and business. Think about it: Imagine showing up to a blind date and seeing a table of ten other prospects competing for your date’s attention. I doubt you would feel respected or pursued.
Now, consider this scenario from a business perspective. Do you think that a recruiter is going to offer you a job if they feel like they’re just one of many? I don’t think so. And it’s been proven. In fact, according to Indeed.com, if you want to get noticed as a candidate, one of the best things you can do is to tailor your resume to the employer’s job description. Because here’s the sad truth: 36% of resumes are rejected for being too generic. And 73% of them are entirely dismissed simply because the content of their CVs doesn’t match the required work experience.
So, what’s the best way to stand out and show your unique value to a prospective company? Interestingly, this is where ChatGPT becomes your go-to for achieving successful resume formatting.
Use ChatGPT To Make Your Resume Shine And Stand Out
Now, I know what you’re thinking: when 82% of companies utilize AI to review all resumes, and then 62% of hiring managers reject these AI-generated resumes, because they lack customization, why would I even suggest using ChatGPT to make your CV shine and stand out?
Well, because AI is not the necessary problem. The primary issue that hiring managers face when reviewing AI-generated resumes is the lack of originality and customization to meet specific job requirements. And that’s where prompts can be super helpful. In fact, understanding how to use the right prompts for your resume can even give you an edge over your competition. For example, here’s an ATS-friendly prompt to get you started by Careerflow:
Prompt: Please find my resume below. I am interested in the position of [Your Job Title]. Please improve the readability by rewriting it. To make it ATS-friendly, include action verbs and profile-centric keywords. [Paste Your Resume]
Now, there are numerous prompts that you can use to create a strong resume. In fact, there’s no one-size-fits-all in this scenario. Because here’s the thing: every job is different, and every applicant brings with them a varied skillset. So, think of this AI interaction as a conversation. Build upon this prompt and refine your content to meet the specific needs of the job. Or, if you don’t want to even mess with AI for creation, you can design the entire resume without any help from ChatGPT, and then ask AI to give you feedback on your final version. This can ensure that your CV meets ATS approval and stands out, both with AI and human review.
Are You Ready For Your Resume To Be Seen?
If you’ve been wondering why your resume gets ignored, I hope this article provides some insights on how to increase your visibility. It’s not an easy job market. Thousands are being let go, and it can feel quite tumultuous to venture out and put yourself out there for a job. But don’t lose hope. If you’re willing to take these three tips and approach your resume from a new perspective, I can guarantee that you’ll be well on your way to increasing your chances of getting an interview. You’ll be making hiring managers stop and take notice, all because you took the time to create a resume that highlights your incredible skills.