How to pass the hiring robot

I received a lot of interesting messages after my last week's article about robots (powered by AI) reviewing and sometimes rejecting CVs. Students, graduates and even experienced professionals have all asked me the same question: “So what do we actually do now?”. My article this week will focus on sharing techniques that one can follow in order to pass the hiring robot.

The reality I shared last week has hit many people hard, ie, your CV is no longer written for a human first. It is scanned, filtered and often rejected by a machine/robot before anyone ever sees your name. And this is not a theory, but a reality followed by many organisations that want to promote being an AI-ready organisation. Today, many organisations rely on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to manage the overwhelming number of applications, using algorithms to scan for keywords and relevance before passing anything to a recruiter. In fact, your CV can be evaluated in seconds by software designed to decide whether you are worth human attention. Therefore, the rejection that many receive is in a matter of minutes, if not hours, after applying for a job.

So the question is no longer “How do I impress a recruiter or a company per se?” The real question is, "How do I get past the robot in question?” The first thing you need to understand is how to speak the language of the machine/robot. AI systems do not read your CV like a human. They scan for patterns, keywords and structure. This means your CV must reflect the exact language used in the job description. If the role asks for “project management” and your CV says “managed projects”, you might think it’s the same, but the system may not. Precision matters more than creativity at this stage. Therefore, ensure you match the content of your CV to the job description advertised.

The second step is the structure. Many try to stand out with creative CV designs, from graphics, columns, fancy layouts, etc. Though it may look impressive to humans and yet confusing to robots. AI systems prefer clean, simple and well-organised formats with clear headings like “Experience”, “Skills” and “Education”. A well-structured CV is not boring yet strategic. It increases your chances of being correctly understood and ranked and thus short-listed (passed) too.

Third, focus on measurable impact. Instead of saying or using statements like “worked on marketing campaigns”, say “managed 3 marketing campaigns that increased engagement by 25%”. Numbers matter because they are easier for both machines/robots and humans to interpret. They make your experience tangible and searchable.

Fourth, build your digital presence. Many hiring systems today do not rely only on your CV. They cross-reference platforms like LinkedIn to validate your experience and activity. A strong, updated profile can reinforce your credibility and even increase your visibility in search results used by recruiters and AI tools.

Fifth, do not underestimate the power of networking. Remember the statement, "It's who you know and not necessarily what you know". Networking, referrals and personal connections remain one of the most powerful ways to bypass automated filters. A recommendation from someone inside an organisation can move your CV directly to a human, skipping the robots and algorithm they used entirely.

Lastly, you must shift your mindset, understand how the system works and position yourself effectively within it. The goal is not to remove your personality but to ensure your personality is actually seen. A brilliant CV that no one reads is useless. Many CVs are not rejected because candidates are unqualified but rather rejected because they are not understood by the system reviewing them. AI in hiring is not going away. If anything, it will become more advanced, more accurate and more influential in shaping careers. But that does not mean you are powerless. It simply means you need to be more intentional. So before you send your next application, ask yourself one question: Is your CV written for a human, or is it optimised to survive the robot first? Until we catch up again next week, stay vigilant and beat the robots at their own game!