Congratulations. Your resume made it through the ATS filter.

You're in the top 25% of applicants. But here's what most people don't realize: passing the robots is just the first hurdle. Now you need to impress an actual human.

And humans look for completely different things than software does.

THE HUMAN SCAN IS DIFFERENT:

ATS scans for keywords and formatting compatibility. Humans scan for story, impact, and fit. They're asking: Can this person actually do the job? Will they fit our culture? Do they communicate clearly?

You have about 30 seconds of their attention. Maybe less if they're reviewing 50 resumes that day.

WHAT RECRUITERS ACTUALLY LOOK FOR:

CLEAR CAREER PROGRESSION
They want to see growth. Are you taking on more responsibility over time? Moving from individual contributor to team lead? Expanding your skill set? Random job hopping with no clear direction raises red flags.
QUANTIFIABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
"Managed social media accounts" tells them nothing. "Grew LinkedIn engagement by 200% and generated 50 qualified leads per month" tells them everything. Numbers prove impact.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
They're matching your background to their specific needs. If the job requires client management and your resume emphasizes technical skills, you're missing the connection. Make it obvious why you're the right fit.
CULTURAL INDICATORS
How you describe your work reveals your values. Do you emphasize collaboration or independent achievement? Innovation or process improvement? Leadership or execution? Make sure it aligns with what they're looking for.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Typos, inconsistent formatting, and sloppy presentation signal how you'll perform on the job. If you can't proofread your own resume, why would they trust you with their work?

THE BIGGEST MISTAKE AFTER PASSING ATS:

Thinking your job is done. Too many people optimize exclusively for ATS, stuffing keywords without considering readability. The result? A resume that passes the software but bores the human.

You need both. ATS-friendly formatting with human-friendly content.

HOW TO OPTIMIZE FOR BOTH:

Use keywords naturally within compelling achievement statements.
Structure your resume for easy scanning with clear headers and bullet points.
Lead with your strongest, most relevant experience.
Cut anything that doesn't directly support your case for THIS job.
Proofread obsessively.

Remember: ATS gets you in the door. The human decides if you get the interview.

Optimize your resume for both at PrettyResume.com

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