AI and automation has many pluses when applying for jobs but it’s less helpful in getting your CV seen by the right people. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are notoriously difficult to get through, and mass application processes such as LinkedIn easy apply mean we’re competing with UK as well as international candidates. The odds are stacked against making the cut let alone let alone landing an interview.
Q: So how do you get your CV in front of recruiters?
A: Employ the personal touch.
Track down the individual who would be your hiring manager - either through LinkedIn or via email. A bit of internet sleuthing should do the trick. Reach out via LinkedIn or email, look at the “contact us” box of an organisation, often the format of that address is the same as the person you’re trying to email.
Write a polite and impactful note, emphasise how keen you are on the role, outline why you’d make a good fit, and attach your CV. It works, I’ve had numerous clients who have found jobs this way.
Always put yourself in the shoes of the busy and often jaded recruiter. They are sifting through masses of homogeneous and / or irrelevant CVs, and yours lands in their inbox, sharp and engaging. They’re going to want to talk a candidate who has shown initiative.
Allocate a chunk of time to this approach and reap the benefits.