Job Search Insights: The Truth About ATS Systems from an Expert

As I’m exploring job opportunities in software engineering, I recently watched “Beat the ATS? They Lied | Ex-Google Recruiter Reveals the Resume Truth” by Farah Sharghi.

I found it useful and wanted to share the key takeaways with you. Personally, I suspect some AI-powered systems do exist, but perhaps not as widely as people think.

The 5 Biggest ATS Myths compiled by Farah Sharghi

1️⃣ “The ATS rejects your resume if it lacks the right keywords.”
Not true. There’s no secret rejection algorithm. ATS tools manage data — they don’t decide who gets rejected.

✅ Optimize for clarity, not keyword density.

2️⃣ “You need an ATS-compliant resume.”
Those “ATS scores” promoted by resume tools? Mostly marketing.

✅ There’s no such thing as an ATS-compliant resume. Focus on readability and relevance.

3️⃣ “The white-font trick works.”
Writing invisible white text to “game the system” doesn’t fool anyone.

✅ Be transparent. Let your strengths speak for themselves.

4️⃣ “ATS uses AI to screen candidates.”
Most recruiters don’t trust AI for screening, they review resumes themselves.

✅ Write for humans, not machines.

5️⃣ “Getting rejected means the ATS rejected you.”
Rejections are made by people — recruiters and hiring managers — not algorithms.

✅ Human judgment still drives hiring decisions.

What Successful Candidates Do

• Write for the human reader, not the system — make your latest title clear.
• Show impact, not activity — what changed because of your work?
• Bridge title gaps — if your title doesn’t translate, add a short explanation.
• Grab attention fast — recruiters spend seconds scanning. Make yours memorable.

I thought these insights were worth sharing because there’s so much unknown about ATS systems.
If you’re job hunting too, focus less on “beating the bots” and more on helping humans see your value clearly.

Comment below if your ATS experience is similar or different.