Should you opt out of AI resume screening-Pro Guide Nov 2024

Many companies use automated systems to screen resumes, but you may have the option to opt out and have a person review them instead. Should you opt out of AI resume screening, or is it better to let the system handle it? In this article, we’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of both choices.

Keep reading to learn how to improve your chances of getting noticed and make the right choice for your job search.

First Understand what happens when you opt out of AI screening

Before we dive into whether you should opt out of AI screening, let’s look at what happens when you choose to opt out of AI screening. When you opt out of AI screening, your application waits for human review, which takes much more time than AI.

Companies receive a lot of applications, and if you opt out of AI, Your resume may be seen only after the AI-filtered resume. This puts you at risk of your application being ignored.

In some companies, opting out passes the resume directly to a human reviewer, which can be beneficial in some cases if the reviewer is assessing specific skills or qualities that the AI might overlook.

Human reviewers sometimes review applications based on their personal biases. This can have positive and negative effects that do not occur in AI.

Companies are not always clear about their processes, so it is always unclear what will happen to the resume after opting out. In some cases, applications may not be reviewed if they depend on AI.

If you are applying for a role that requires creative or unique skills, your resume may be more impactful in a human review. Human reviewers appreciate personalized information and storytelling, which is not possible with AI.

Should you opt out of AI resume screening

Key Factors to Consider When Deciding to Opt-Out of AI Resume Screening:

Identify the Job Type and Field

If you are applying for technical jobs with specific skills, like IT engineering, then leaving AI screening could be the best choice, because AI checks specific terms and qualifications in those fields.

Assess Your Resume’s AI-Compatibility

If your resume uses common job-related keywords and has a clear format, then this is AI-friendly. In that case, you don’t need to opt out.

However, if your resume lacks specific or traditional keywords, a human review is more beneficial because it is more flexible.

Consider the Company’s Approach to Hiring

Large corporations mostly rely on AI and do not prioritize human review. In that case, the chances of a resume being better if it undergoes AI screening may be better.

The chances of a personal review are higher in mid-sized or smaller companies, especially if the job demands unique qualities and interpersonal skills. Opting out may increase your chances here.

Focus on your Application Goals

Focus what is your main goal. If your main focus is getting fast responses and applying for multiple jobs, then AI screening will help.

But, If you target specific companies and want a personalized approach, then opting out may be the better choice.

Should I opt out of AI resume screening or choose human review?

We just cover the most basic things quickly that help you to choose which one is best AI or human review:

Advantages of AI Screening

• Speed: The AI process resumes’ quickly, which helps in a fast response.
• Keyword Matching: AI focuses on specific skills and keywords, which helps in shortlisting relevant applicants.
• Volume Handling: AI efficiently screens large applications, which is a benefit for big companies.

Disadvantages of AI Screening

• Lack of Context: AI struggles to understand complex and unique skills and may be missing some nuances of your resume.
• Limited personalization: AI cannot identify personalized or creative profiles that may be more highlighted in human reviews.
• Over-Reliance on Keywords: The biggest disadvantage of choosing AI screening is the AI works by finding specific keywords in the resume. For example, if the job asks for “Microsoft Excel skills”, the AI will try to find the exact words or similar phrases. If your resume lists these skills in different wording (such as Proficiency in spreadsheets or uses Data analysis tools), the AI may ignore or miss your skills.

Advantages of Human Review

• Contextual Understanding: Human reviewers take a broader view of your skills and experience.
• Nuance Recognition: It’s easy to spot creative and unique profiles that might be missed by AI.
• Personalized Judgment: Human reviewers appreciate the individuality of resumes, which is helpful for unique candidates.

Disadvantages of Human Review

• Slow process: Human review is time-consuming and does not give quick responses.
• Limited Capacity: Humans can screen limited resumes, which is challenging for large application pools.
• Bias risk: Human reviewers may be affected by their Biases, which remain neutral in AI screening.

How does AI resume screening work?

AI resume screening works in the following way and you also get an idea about how to get your resume noticed by AI:

Keyword Matching: AI analyzes the keywords given in the job description and searches for those keywords or phrases in the resume. For example, if the job description says “Microsoft Excel skills” or “project management”, then AI will try to find these exact terms in the resume.

Experience & Skill Filtering: AI assesses your experience level and skills. AI checks whether your resume has the required experience (e.g., 5 years in project management) or not. If this information is mentioned in the resume, then AI can add your resume to the relevant candidate list.

Format & Structure Analysis: AI can read structured resumes better, so resumes need to have clear headings (like “Experience,” “Skills,” and “Education”). Confusing layouts or images can make it difficult for AI to analyze.

Scoring and Ranking: AI assigns a score to each resume, depending on its relevancy. This score determines whether or not a resume will be shortlisted. High-scoring resumes are sent to the hiring manager while low-scoring resumes are rejected.

Screening for Soft Skills & Other Criteria: Some advanced AI systems also try to judge an applicant’s soft skills (like teamwork, and communication) through language or tone, but not every AI system has this feature.

In summary, AI resume screening helps in shortlisting by checking keywords, experience, format, and relevance. This automated process is fast and efficient, but the resume must have exact keywords and a clear structure so that the AI can understand your application correctly and shortlist it.

Are AI-Generated Resumes Good?

AI-generated resumes can be helpful, but they have both good and bad points. Here’s a simple breakdown:

Good Things About AI-Generated Resumes

• Fast and Easy: AI helps you make a resume quickly, saving you time by organizing your work experience.
• Looks Professional: AI formats your resume neatly, making it look clean and easy to read.
• Helps with Keywords: AI adds important words from the job description, which can help your resume get noticed by AI screening systems.
• Fixes Mistakes: AI checks your grammar and suggests improvements, making your resume look polished.

Bad Things About AI-Generated Resumes

• Feels Generic: AI-generated resumes can seem basic and may not show what makes you special compared to other candidates.
• Too Many Keywords: AI might add too many keywords just to get through the system, making it sound unnatural to a real person.
• AI Can Make Mistakes: AI doesn’t always understand your experience perfectly and might leave out important details or make errors.
• Struggles with Unusual Jobs: If your job history is complicated, AI may not explain your experience correctly.

In short, AI-generated resumes are good for quickly creating a neat, professional resume. But you should still check it to make sure it truly shows off your skills and experience.

How to Avoid AI Detection in Resume

If you want your resume to stand out to humans, not just AI, here are some simple tips:

Don’t Overuse Keywords

Use important keywords, but don’t repeat them too much. It can make your resume sound awkward.

Write Naturally

Use simple, clear language. AI can detect resumes that are written just for machines and not for humans.

Use Different Words

Instead of repeating the same words, try using different words with similar meanings.

Avoid Hidden Text

Don’t hide text by changing its color or making it too small. AI can find this.

Focus on Real Experience

Make sure your resume is about your real skills and achievements. Don’t just focus on keywords.

Customize for Each Job

Customize your resume for each job you apply to. This helps it match better with the job description.

Add a Personal Touch

Include a short personal summary to show who you are. AI can’t understand your personality, but humans can.

These tips will help your resume pass through AI and catch the attention of real people.

How to check if a resume is AI-generated?

To check if a resume is made by AI, look for these signs, too many repeated words, formal or stiff language, strange formatting like mismatched fonts, and vague descriptions without specific examples. AI resumes often use buzzwords without context. You can also use online AI detection tools to help. If the grammar or sentences sound odd, it might be AI. These tips can help you tell if a resume is AI-generated.

Here are some simple tools to check if a resume was made by AI:

GPTZero

A tool that checks if text is written by AI by looking at writing patterns.

Originality.AI

It checks for AI writing and also looks for copied content.

CopyLeaks

This tool helps find AI-written text and also checks for plagiarism.

Hugging Face’s AI Detection Tool

It looks for unusual writing styles that are common in AI writing.

Writer.com AI Content Detector

A tool that scans resumes to see if they were created by AI.

These tools help you find out if a resume was written by AI.

Are AI-generated resumes rejected?

AI-generated resumes are not always rejected, but they can face problems. Many companies use AI to check resumes, and if the resume seems too simple or lacks personal details, it might not stand out. However, if the resume has the right keywords and looks relevant, it could still pass through the AI check.

In the end, whether a resume is accepted or rejected depends on the company’s hiring process and how well the resume fits the job description.

What is the Best Resume Score?

The best resume score can vary depending on the company and the AI tool used for screening. However, most AI systems aim to find a resume that closely matches the job description. A higher score typically means that your resume includes the right keywords, skills, and experience that the employer is looking for.

In general, a score above 80% is considered good, as it suggests your resume is highly relevant to the job. But it’s important to remember that a high score doesn’t guarantee getting the job—human recruiters still look at the resume, and they may consider other factors like personality, experience, and cultural fit.

A program that the company uses to evaluate resumes for free?

Companies use different Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to evaluate resumes, and some of these systems offer free or trial versions for job seekers. These programs help companies filter resumes based on keywords, skills, and qualifications. Here are a few tools you can use for free to check how your resume might be evaluated:

1. Jobscan

• What it does: Compares your resume to the job description and gives you a match score.
• How to use it: Copy-paste your resume and job description into the tool.
• Free version: Offers limited scans per month.

2. Resumeworded

• What it does: Analyzes your resume for ATS compatibility and gives suggestions for improvement.
• How to use it: Upload your resume for feedback.
• Free version: Provides basic feedback.

3. Zety Resume Builder

• What it does: Helps create ATS-friendly resumes and offers tips to optimize them.
• How to use it: Use their templates to design and adjust your resume.
• Free version: Limited access to features.

4. TopResume Free ATS Scan

• What it does: Reviews your resume for ATS optimization and provides a report.
• How to use it: Submit your resume, and they email the results.
• Free version: Basic ATS scan.

5. CVScan

• What it does: Check if your resume meets ATS requirements and highlights missing keywords.
• How to use it: Upload your resume and job description.
• Free version: Completely free for basic analysis.

These tools can help you understand how companies evaluate resumes and give you a chance to improve your chances of passing their ATS systems.

FAQs

How do I make sure AI reads my resume accurately?

To ensure AI reads your resume accurately, use a simple format with standard fonts (like Arial or Times New Roman) and avoid images, tables, and graphics. This helps AI systems process your resume correctly.

What keywords should I include in my resume for AI screening?

Include keywords directly from the job description, especially skills, qualifications, and job titles. For instance, if the job lists “Project Management” as a requirement, use that exact phrase on your resume to increase your match score.

Why is ATS-friendly formatting important for AI resume screening?

ATS-friendly formatting ensures your resume passes AI screening. Use clear headings like “Experience,” “Skills,” and “Education.” Stick to PDF or DOCX formats, as AI often can’t read other file types like JPEGs.

How can I improve my resume’s match score for AI screening?

To boost your match score, tailor your resume to each job by adding the skills, experience, and qualifications listed in the job description. Mention specific accomplishments, like “Increased sales by 20%,” to make your resume more impactful.

Should I include soft skills on my resume for AI screening?

Yes, include both hard and soft skills, especially those in the job posting. AI scans for all relevant skills, so listing both can improve your chances of getting through the initial screening.

Should I let AI write my resume?

AI tools can help draft a resume quickly and ensure it includes the right keywords. However, it’s important to review and personalize the content to ensure it represents your unique skills and experiences accurately.

Why is AI rejecting my resume?

AI may reject a resume if it lacks keywords or formatting that matches the job description. Make sure your resume is ATS-friendly with clear headings, relevant keywords, and a simple layout to improve your chances of passing AI screening.

How does an AI relevancy score affect my application?

An AI relevancy score shows how well your resume fits the job requirements. A higher score improves the chances that your application will be flagged for human review, while a low score may lead to rejection if it doesn’t meet the job criteria.

Conclusion: Making the Best Choice for Your Resume

Ultimately, deciding whether to let an AI or a person review your resume depends on what works best for you. If you choose to go through the automated process, your resume will be quickly checked for the right words and skills, helping you get noticed faster. If you opt-out, a person might look at your resume, giving it a more personal touch, but it might take longer.

The most important thing is ensuring your resume is easy to read, shows the right skills, and fits the job you’re applying for. Whether it’s seen by an AI or a person, a well-prepared resume that matches the job is the best way to stand out and get noticed.

So, focus on making your resume clear and relevant, and you’ll have a better chance of progressing in your job search.