Did you know that over 70% of resumes get rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)?
Well, that’s what some job search firm called Preptel wants you to believe.
Back in 2012, they ran a “study” that somehow turned ATS into the big, bad hiring villain.
And, of course, CNBC, Forbes, and every media outlet since have been happily spreading the story.
Here’s the twist: the company doesn’t even exist anymore.
The original article? Gone.
The research behind the claim?
Who knows if it ever existed.
So, what’s the truth? Well, turns out there’s NO CREDIBLE DATA to back that 70% rejection claim.
Recruiters say all this talk about automated rejections is blown way out of proportion. Don’t believe me? Here’s an idea—go ahead and check out this, and this article.
What Recruiters Actually Say About ATS
The reality?
Recruiters do look at resumes.
Shocking, I know—it’s literally their job! So, why do we keep banging on about the ATS “black hole” and that infamous “70% rejection rate”?
🎥 I actually talk through this ATS myth in more detail in this video—watch below if you’d rather listen than scroll.
Filtering ≠ Automatic Rejection
Here’s the deal: there’s a huge difference between “filtering” resumes and “automatic rejection.”
Remember, there’s a human behind that software, and they can filter applications based on anything—location, salary, qualifications, years of experience, keywords… it’s a long list.
That same human also has the power to hit “reply” and let you know if you’ve made the cut.
So, if it’s not ATS automatically rejecting you, I can already hear you asking, “Why on earth am I not hearing back?”
Now that is a better question.
But not quite the one you should be asking.
Ask This Question Instead
Let’s be real. After enough ghosting or rejection emails, you might finally ask the right question: “What’s actually stopping me from landing interviews or getting the job?”
And here’s the magic question. Ready?
“What criteria am I missing that’s keeping me out of the running?”
What a Harvard Study Revealed
Turns out, Harvard Business School did a study on this, and here’s the bottom line.
Most candidates get tossed out of the hiring process because:
- They don’t clearly meet the requirements (like years of experience)
- Have gaps in their resume
- Don’t follow instructions
- Or flub a “knockout” question
So, your mission?
When putting together your resume, make sure it’s laser-focused on the employer’s needs. Align it with what they’re asking for, and you’ll have a much better shot at getting noticed.
Good luck out there!
~ Lisa
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