Resist uploading traditional CVs for human review. AI is rewriting the rules of hiring.

As companies automate recruitment, candidates who fail to highlight their skills may get screened out… before a human ever sees their application.

-– The first person reviewing your online job application probably isn’t a person at all, and that’s changing everything about how we currently apply for work.

An article from online career platform Zety reveals that in today’s AI-driven hiring environment, traditional CVs are underperforming. The CVs getting the most traction? The ones built around skills-first storytelling – not job titles.

“Most applicants are still writing CVs for humans. But today, your first interview is often with an algorithm,” said Danuta Detyna, career strategist at Zety. “If your skills aren’t clearly visible, the system will likely move on.”

Zety’s findings are based on insights from tens of thousands of CVs created on Zety and draw on current hiring trends across sectors including tech, marketing, education, and professional services.

The Rise of Algorithmic Hiring, and the Fall of the Traditional CV

AI-powered Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are now standard in hiring. These systems scan CVs for keywords and evaluate how well a candidate’s skills align with the job description. They don’t assess intent, tone, or potential. They’re built to filter, not interpret.

Zety’s report outlines practical strategies to help candidates:

• Identify job-specific, transferable, and adaptive skills
• Tailor CV language to match job ads
• Embed skills consistently throughout summaries, experience, and skills sections
• Use data points to validate soft skills, rather than stating them generically

In place of “good communicator,” for instance, a candidate might write:
“Led stakeholder meetings across departments, helping reduce reporting delays by 30%.”

The Human Factor: Burnout, Career Pivots, and Skills Resilience

The shift toward skills-first hiring isn’t just tech-driven – it’s personal. Nearly 44% of workers globally report feeling burned out, according to Gallup. As professionals rethink their priorities and pivot to new roles or industries, many are realising their CVs fail to reflect the skills they’ve developed outside of formal titles.

The trend also underscores the need for candidates to recognise and articulate skills gained beyond formal job titles (through freelance work, lateral moves, caregiving, or crisis response) and reflect them clearly in their CVs.

“Skills are more fluid than job titles. That’s why they’re a better measure of potential,” says Danuta Detyna. “It’s also why hiring teams and algorithms alike are putting them front and centre.”

Skills: The Career Currency of the 2020s

By 2030, there may be 12.7 million workers competing for just 9.5 million suitable jobs. That gap makes it clear: credentials alone won’t be enough.

The most sought-after skills, according to Zety’s analysis, span technical and behavioural capabilities. Among them:

Top Hard Skills

• Data analysis
• Project management
• Social media marketing
• CRM systems
• Foreign languages

Top Soft Skills

• Problem solving
• Time management
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Flexibility

But it’s not just about listing them. It’s about proving them.

Zety’s guide encourages jobseekers to support each skill with context, outcomes, or metrics wherever possible.

Looking Ahead: From Static CVs to Skills-Based Narratives

With hiring technologies evolving and job paths becoming less linear, experts say CVs must become more dynamic, too.

Zety’s report positions the skills-based CV not as a trend, but as a future-proof strategy. Especially for:

• Career changers re-entering or switching industries
• Graduates entering the workforce without traditional experience
• Burnout-affected professionals redefining their career story
• Freelancers and gig workers whose capabilities often defy rigid job titles

About Zety

Zety resume templates and Zety’s resume and cover letter generator are trusted by 12 million users each year. With 100s of options to choose from, including professionally designed resume templates to beat the ATS, users can create a professional resume in less than 15 minutes.

Since 2016, Zety’s career blog has provided free data-driven insights to over 40 million readers annually, empowering professionals at every stage. The editorial team includes Certified Professional Resume Writers, with the best career advice and evidence-based findings featured in Business Insider, CNBC, and Forbes, among others.

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