4 Ways to Beat AI & Get That Interview

You've graduated from college, and it's time to start a career. Or maybe, you want to change jobs and move up the career ladder. Whatever the scenario, it's time to polish that resume. But when you submit it to a company, who reviews it?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a mainstay of employee recruitment. It's used to screen job applicants and is the first to review your resume. Knowing how to write the type of resume that will pass AI's algorithms will go a long way in securing that great job.

Basic resume writing is still the same. You want to present your contact information, education and experience. But there are some tweaks you'll need to do to make your resume pass muster with AI. It's all about understanding the algorithm and how it can work for you.

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In recruiting, an AI algorithm is programmed around keywords. When AI reviews a resume, it's looking for keywords that fit the job description. The more keywords for that job it sees on your resume, the more likely AI will recommend it. It's imperative that your resume have those keywords.

It's not hard to find the correct keywords, but it will take a little research. The first and most obvious step is to look at the job's description. Are there some points or words that it reiterates? Look at other jobs similar to this one and note if there are overlapping words or expressions. Other places you can find relevant words include:

• Professional and technical organizations
• Recruiters
• Job services
• Similar online postings

Write down words and phrases that all of these share with basically the same job description. These are most likely the keywords for this job.

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Once you have researched and discovered the keywords, it's time to fit them into your resume. To do this, examine your experience and education. Look for words in your background or education that overlap with the keywords you discovered in your job description research. If the words describe both your experience and the job description, place them in your resume.

Tailor your resume with these keywords. Don't force the keywords. To work effectively, they should be throughout your resume in a relevant manner.

Don't get fancy. Keep your resume formatted simply and cleanly. Even if you are the creative type, refrain. AI might not catch all your vital information if it's buried. Save all that creativity for the interview.

Use a simple word document. Have clear headers for information such as:

• Education
• Work experience
• Certifications
• Skills
• Summary

When presenting your information, keeping it simple goes beyond the aesthetics. Watch the jargon. If you're an occupational therapist, don't assume that the AI will know "OT." There might be a shorter way to say something, but don't do it. This is your resume, not a text message. Keep the language and the look of your resume plain.

Use AI on your resume to help you prepare. There are resume checkers that use AI. For example, Jobscan is a resume checker that will score your resume against the job description. This will allow you to test those keywords.

If you're still in college, before you head out on that job search, check and see if your school offers VMock. VMock will also check your resume. It will point out inconsistent dates and experiences. This gives you the knowledge and time to correct it before you send it out.

The first step to your dream job is passing AI's review. Do the research before you write your resume. Optimize your resume with keywords. You can wow them when you have the interview, but for starters, a simply written and formatted resume should pass the AI test.