Peter Ajayi

Job Search Tip: Before a recruiter opens your resume, something else already has. At companies like Google, a single role can receive 10,000 applications. Even a Series B startup might see 800 applicants for one position. No recruiting team can manually review that volume. Software reads your resume first. Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Platforms like Greenhouse, Lever, and Workday scan and process resumes before a human ever sees them. Your resume is parsed by the system. The software breaks it into structured data such as name, work history, education, skills, and keywords. Then it compares that data with the job description. Three important things happen during this stage. 1. Keyword matching The system searches for the same skills and phrases used in the job description. If the role lists “Python,” “SQL,” and “A/B testing,” the software looks for those exact terms. If your resume says “data experimentation” instead of “A/B testing,” the system might not recognise it as the same skill. 2. Candidate ranking Many ATS tools score resumes based on how closely they match the job description. Higher scores appear higher in the recruiter dashboard. Recruiters often review candidates from the top of that list first. 3. Automatic filters Some companies set rules that automatically filter candidates. These rules may include years of experience, location, degree requirements, or visa eligibility. If a rule says “5+ years experience,” candidates listing four may never reach a recruiter. Formatting also matters more than most people realise. Complex resume designs often break the parsing process. Tables, graphics, icons, unusual fonts, or text placed inside images can confuse the system. For example, a recruiter may clearly see: Senior Data Analyst Python | SQL | Machine Learning But if those skills sit inside a graphic or table, the ATS might read nothing. Section titles matter too. Most systems expect headings like: Experience Education Skills Creative headings such as “Where I’ve Worked” or “My Toolkit” can sometimes fail to map correctly. Many candidates believe they are competing directly with other people. In reality, the first competition is against how a machine interprets their resume. This does not mean gaming the system. It means writing a document that both machines and humans can understand. Simple adjustments help. Use the same terminology as the job description when it reflects your real skills. Keep formatting simple. Place key skills in plain text. Use clear section headings. Quantify achievements so impact is easy to identify. Once your resume passes this first screening layer, a recruiter finally reads it. That is when your story begins to matter. Until then, your resume is being read by software first.

Last week, I sent out 5 employment offers. Next week, 2 more candidates will be receiving theirs. Since January this year, that’s 22 people who moved from job seekers to employees. Moments like this remind me why I enjoy recruitment so much. To every candidate still searching for a job, your offer email might be closer than you think. Never give up.