CV: passing the robot filter

Key words, the key to the recruiter's door

Today, 95% of large companies and half of small and medium-sized businesses are equipped with robots that scan CVs. Knowing how to talk to robots is essential to meeting a human recruiter. To capture the attention of the algorithms, you need to use the right keywords on your CV, the ones that are set by the hiring manager.

Use the terms mentioned in the job ad to list the skills and know-how you're looking for: professional experience required, human skills desired, software to master, etc. Once you've drawn up this list, use the relevant keywords on your CV. Of course, they must correspond to your actual profile! Don't forget that a recruiter will make a second selection of the candidates he or she wishes to meet.

Avoid the pitfall of an overly original CV

Gone are the days when, to attract the attention of recruiters, we sent them aesthetically pleasing, graphic, hand-written CVs by post. Too many colors, pictograms or tables cloud the robot's judgment: it can't decode them. If there's too little text, it also risks eliminating you.

Technically speaking, prefer simple text formats (.pdf or .doc). Avoid image files (.jpeg or .png), which could automatically disqualify you as the robot can't read the information they contain. The title and sub-title of your CV are also important: opt for a title that's easy for robots to decipher, and for a more precise sub-title listing your main skills and career objectives.

Finally, robots are like children: they need to be told things several times to understand. So, if you've had three similar jobs (even internships), don't be afraid to use the same keyword three times.

Marking your difference remains an advantage

Behind the robot, there's still a human being. And he doesn't necessarily want all his recruits to have the same profile. Fortunately, the machine learns quickly, and is now able to compare the company's best-performing profiles with the CVs it receives. In this way, it selects high-potential profiles, betting on their similarities as well as on the originality of their backgrounds.

Alumni, this could be the key to your recruitment in France. Your bilingual and international profile can easily stand out from the crowd and get past the robots. Your place of birth, the name of your high school and your dual language skills are all assets to be highlighted on your CV, in addition to your curriculum and experience in France.

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