Applying for jobs has become more of a digital battleground than ever before, thanks to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and AI-driven recruitment tools. If you’ve ever submitted an application online, you’ve likely encountered one of these systems, whether you knew it or not. But are they helping or hurting your chances of landing your dream job? Let’s break it down.
The Pros of Applicant Tracking Systems
- Efficiency for Employers: Companies receive hundreds—sometimes thousands—of applications for a single job. ATS helps recruiters quickly filter through resumes, ensuring that only the most relevant ones make it to a human’s desk.
- Keyword Matching: If you tailor your resume correctly, an ATS can actually work in your favor by flagging you as a strong candidate based on skills and experience.
- Streamlined Process: ATS allows companies to track applications, schedule interviews, and communicate with candidates more efficiently.
- Diversity Hiring Initiatives: Some ATS tools are designed to remove bias by anonymizing resumes, focusing solely on skills and experience.
The Cons of Applicant Tracking Systems
- Over-Reliance on Keywords: Many qualified candidates are filtered out simply because they didn’t use the “right” words in their resume. If you don’t tailor your application to match the job description, your resume might never be seen by human eyes.
- Lack of Context: ATS can’t measure potential, adaptability, or soft skills—it only scans for what’s programmed into it.
- Data Retention: Your past applications don’t just disappear into the void. They stick around indefinitely unless the company has a strict retention policy.
- Bias Still Exists: Even though some ATS aim to reduce bias, human recruiters ultimately make the decisions, and internal notes from past applications can follow you.
AI and Your Candidacy: The Digital Footprint You Didn’t Know You Had
I bet they told you they’ll keep your resume just in case something else opens up. Of course you believe that. Do you want to know the real reason they’re keeping your resume/application? For tracking purposes.
Your application is stored in the ATS, and unless the company has a retention policy on how long they keep your application (most do NOT), they will be able to see what you applied for, if you’ve had an interview with someone, what the interviewer’s feedback was—good or bad—and any internal notes they may have stated regarding your candidacy.
I know this… because I used to review resumes when I was gainfully employed.
Imagine, you apply to a job at ABC Company in 2025, but you also applied to them in 2018. Back in 2018, you were working at a company that you were avidly trying to escape from, and eventually, they terminated you (justly or unjustly doesn’t matter). You’ve had one other job since then, but you decided to remove ABC from your resume. The recruiter sees your name come up in the ATS and notes that there are two of you in the system. They click on the first application with your original 2018 resume and now they’re looking at all the notes that were in that packet. Let’s say John Salmon, the person who interviewed you in 2018, decided that you weren’t a good fit because “your vibe was off,” and he charmingly decided to put that in your application feedback. Well, now Molly Hans, who’s in 2025 looking at your new application, is going to think twice about interviewing you for a second position because “vibes,” not experience, “matter.”
How to Protect Your Candidacy in an AI-Driven Job Market
- Optimize Your Resume: Use the right keywords from job descriptions, but keep your resume honest and authentic.
- Be Consistent: If you applied to a company before, don’t try to erase your history. Be ready to explain career gaps or job switches.
- Network Like a Human: ATS and AI can’t replace real relationships. Networking with people inside your target companies can help bypass the ATS wall.
- Request Data Removal: Some companies comply with data privacy laws that allow you to request the deletion of your past application records. It never hurts to ask!
Final Thoughts
AI and ATS are here to stay, but understanding how they work can give you an edge. While these systems can make the hiring process more efficient, they can also lock candidates out based on past applications or arbitrary recruiter notes. The best strategy? Be proactive, strategic, and always advocate for yourself—because at the end of the day, you’re more than just a data point in an algorithm.
