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Making a resume is not that complicated. But making one that catches the attention of recruiters is much more difficult. To maximize their chances of success, job seekers try “white-fonting.”
The principle of “white-fonting” is simple: the job seeker copies paragraphs from the job offer that interests them and pastes them in white into their CV. They must also ensure that the size of the text they hide in their CV is reduced as much as possible to make it illegible, and above all so that it does not compromise the rest of the document. This technique aims to fool the ATS (applicant tracking system) software that recruiters use to make an initial sort through the applications they receive for the same position.
ATS software relies on algorithms that scan resumes for information that suggests an applicant is qualified or not for a position. They comb through job titles of previous jobs held by candidates, as well as lists of skills and certifications. ATSs don’t read resumes the same way a recruiter does. They look to match keywords in a job description with keywords in an application. They have no qualms about eliminating an applicant who doesn’t check all the boxes predefined by the employer, even if they are qualified.
Aware of the importance that ATS places on keywords, some job candidates do not hesitate to pepper their CV with technical terms that correspond to the position they are aiming for, even if they have no connection with their professional background. Or even to do “white-fonting”, for the most daring. But recruitment specialists warn them against this trick.Even if a candidate slips through the ATS filters, their resume will eventually end up in the hands of a real hiring manager. If that person notices discrepancies between the words on the resume and the so-called skills listed in the SEA profile, they will not fail to notice.” explains Natalie Boren, senior vice president of recruiting firm Career Group Companies, to Business Insider.
To avoid making a mistake, the ideal is to adapt your CV to each job offer you apply for. This can be extremely time-consuming, but it’s worth it if it’s your dream job. In any case, don’t waste too much time refining your CV. It’s better to have a readable document that includes all the essential information (job titles, skills, studies, etc.) than a very elaborate one that would take a recruiter longer to decipher. Remember that a hiring manager spends, on average, between thirty seconds and two minutes reading a CV.
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