In today's competitive job market, finding a job can be more complicated than it seems at first glance, especially due to the technological barriers that are imposed even before a human recruiter evaluates a curriculum vitae (CV). Automated applicant tracking systems (ATS) are tools used by many companies to filter applications, rejecting those that do not meet certain predefined criteria.
These applicant tracking systems scan CVs for keyword matches and a clear structure, discarding those documents that feature unusual or overly creative formats. To overcome this initial obstacle, it is essential that applicants tailor their CVs to align with the job specifications, using language that is directly related to the job description.
The CV format should be simple, with readable fonts and contact details visible at the beginning of the document. Additionally, it is crucial that the section titles be standardized to facilitate their identification by the system. Avoiding complex formats is essential to prevent reading errors that could lead to an automatic rejection.
The texture of the language used also plays a crucial role: keywords must reflect, in an honest and precise manner, the candidate's experience and skills, since once the ATS has been passed, the CV will pass into the hands of a human recruiter who will verify the coherence and quality of the writing.
Personalization is a recurring piece of advice from experts. Adapting the CV to each job posting may require more time and effort, but it significantly increases the probability of advancing to the next stages of the selection process. In an environment where every detail matters, meticulously crafting the presentation and content of the CV could be the difference between being dismissed quickly or becoming a potential candidate.
