Making an impression: How to tailor your resume for a AI-based platforms

As companies move from traditional hiring methods to a Direct Sourcing strategy, the job hunt is evolving.

From AI-powered skill-matching that creates a 60 second application process to personalized communication and targeted talent pools, these changes are leading to a more positive candidate experience. 

Still, they also require candidates to think differently about how they present their experience and skills.

We look at how to create resumes that perform best with Direct Sourcing platforms. 

What’s the difference between traditional hiring and Direct Sourcing?

As companies start to look for new ways to structure the hiring process, candidates are noticing interesting changes in the application experience.  

Traditional methods include:

• Relying heavily on career websites, job boards and social media platforms like LinkedIn. 
• Collecting applications from the open market, which recruiters then manually review before creating a short list to send to Hiring Managers. 
• Using third-party recruiting agencies that work with companies to find and submit candidates. 

Depending on how many resumes are collected, this process typically takes significant time and effort, leading to longer wait times for candidates and less personalized communication. 

A Direct Sourcing method, on the other hand, uses a more targeted approach by:

• Reaching out to previous applicants and known talent who have been vetted by company managers and employees.
• Creating Talent Communities where candidates can engage with companies and learn about open positions. Recruiters will then make private talent pools based on skills, locations, pay rates, etc. Once a position opens up, they’ll be able to reach out to workers in specific talent pools instead of going through hundreds of applications, leading to a quicker hiring process. 
• Using AI technology like job matching. TalentNet’s platform, for example, is able to match candidates to open positions using a job match percentage. You can then apply to jobs based on how high your match percentage is. 
• Personalizing all messages and communication, and helping recruiters communicate quicker and more frequently. If you’re applying through TalentNet’s platform, candidates can even check their application status to avoid any miscommunication.

How are resumes changing?

In a traditional hiring process, recruiters are the first to see each resume, and they typically perform a manual review based on certain criteria set by hiring managers. A select number of resumes are then sent to these managers, who do a secondary review before creating a short list and starting the interview process. 

Direct Sourcing resumes are seen by AI-driven platforms and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) first, where they’re parsed and organized based on categories like skillsets, location, and experience. 

Because of this process, modern resumes should:

• Be simple and easy to parse
• Focus on skill sets (based on the position, you may want to focus more on hard skills)
• Include keywords based on the job description
• Be tailored to each open position
• Have clean formatting based on the platform you’re using

How do I get my resume noticed?

When submitting a resume through an AI-based platform, it’s important to optimize it according to the system’s specifications. This includes:

Using relevant keywords. 

Keywords are one of the most important features of a Direct Sourcing resume, since they help the AI-driven system identify if you’re a good fit. 

Some candidates create a keyword bank customized to their industry so they can quickly create resumes for each new company they apply to. 

Focusing on hard skills

While traditional resumes often highlight soft skills, Direct Sourcing platforms are typically looking for hard skills first. It’s a good idea to include a skills section at the top of your resume for this reason.

For example, if you’re applying for a mechanical engineering job looking for CAD software expertise, and you have experience with AutoCAD, that should be included at the top of your resume. 

Quantifying your achievements

Instead of listing your job duties, Direct Sourcing resumes should quantify achievements using specifics like numbers or percentages. 

For example, let’s say you’re applying for a project management position at a software firm. Instead of writing, “Managed software development projects,” you could say, “Led 10+ software development projects, delivering 95% on time and under budget.”

Standing out in a new hiring dynamic

As the job market continues to shift, candidates who understand today’s expectations are more likely to make an impression. While companies continue using AI-based tools like job-matching, it’s important that resumes focus on hard skills, key words, and quantifiable achievements. 

For more on how to navigate the job market, check out our latest blogs and resources here.