Discover how artificial intelligence (AI) can make your professional profile stand out in a competitive, dynamic market. Learn about its impact on personalisation, keyword optimisation, SEO and other key strategies to adapt your CV to the sector you’re interested in.
Smart CV via Artificial Intelligence
(Barcelona International Community Day edition)
If you’re here, you probably attended my recent talk on how different generative AI tools can enhance our CVs, but more importantly, boost our professional visibility and help us stand out by overcoming the barriers posed by ATS, particularly those of the 4th generation.
Below, you’ll find the presentation in a navigable PDF (as I’ll be updating it), and further down, the links to download it, as well as links to the open and free sessions I offer via Barcelona Activa, either streamed or in-person (lasting 2 to 3 hours). Most of these are conducted in Catalan and Spanish, but occasionally also in English.
Smart-CV-via-AIDownload Smart CV via AI (PDF)
Smart CVs with Artificial Intelligence Workshop (Catalan session)
Bonus Content: Extra Tips for Optimising Your CV with AI
Types of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and Their Generations: an introduction
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) have evolved significantly since their inception in the 1990s. These systems streamline the recruitment process by automating job postings, applications, and candidate tracking. ATS can be categorized into different generations based on technological advancements and features. Below is an overview of these generations, including development dates, suitability for various business sizes, and current pricing.
First Generation ATS (1990s)
- Development Period: Early to late 1990s
- Features:
- Basic resume storage and retrieval
- Keyword search capabilities
- Simple applicant databases
- Suitable For: Large corporations needing to manage a high volume of applicants
- Examples:
- Resumix (developed in 1994)
- Restrac (launched in 1993)
- Pricing: High implementation costs, often exceeding $100,000 due to custom development and infrastructure
Second Generation ATS (2000s)
- Development Period: Early to late 2000s
- Features:
- Enhanced resume parsing
- Improved search functionalities
- Basic workflow automation
- Suitable For: Medium to large enterprises seeking efficiency
- Examples:
- Taleo (founded in 1996, gained prominence in early 2000s)
- iCIMS (launched in 1999)
- Pricing: Annual subscriptions ranging from $60,000 to $100,000, depending on features and company size
Third Generation ATS (2010s)
- Development Period: Early 2010s to late 2010s
- Features:
- Cloud-based platforms
- Integration with HR tools
- User-friendly interfaces
- Mobile accessibility
- Suitable For: Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- Examples:
- SmartRecruiters (founded in 2010)
- Jobvite (launched in 2006 but updated features in 2010s)
- Pricing: Subscription models starting from $5,000 to $50,000 per year
Fourth Generation ATS (Late 2010s to Present)
- Development Period: Late 2010s to present
- Features:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning capabilities
- Predictive analytics
- Social media integration
- Enhanced candidate experience
- Suitable For: Organizations of all sizes, including individuals and freelancers
- Examples:
- Greenhouse (founded in 2012)
- Lever (launched in 2012)
- Pricing:
- Greenhouse: Starts around $6,000 per year for SMEs
- Lever: Custom pricing, generally starting from $8,000 per year
- Free or freemium versions available for individuals and small businesses (e.g., Zoho Recruit, Breezy HR)
ATS Solutions by Business Size
Corporations
- Workday Recruiting (launched in 2014)
- Features: Comprehensive HR suite with advanced analytics
- Pricing: Custom quotes, typically over $100,000 per year
- Oracle Taleo (acquired by Oracle in 2012)
- Features: Robust features for large-scale recruitment
- Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing
Medium Businesses
- JobAdder (founded in 2007)
- Features: Applicant tracking and CRM capabilities
- Pricing: Starts at $99 per user per month
- Bullhorn (launched in 1999, modernized in 2010s)
- Features: Cloud-based with CRM integration
- Pricing: Approximately $1,200 per user per year
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
- Recruitee (founded in 2015)
- Features: Collaborative hiring and pipeline management
- Pricing: Starts at $109 per month for up to 5 job slots
- Breezy HR (launched in 2014)
- Features: User-friendly interface with automation tools
- Pricing: Free for limited features; paid plans start at $143 per month
Individuals and Small Businesses
- Zoho Recruit (launched in 2009)
- Features: Basic ATS functionalities with integration options
- Pricing: Free version available; paid plans start at $25 per user per month
- SmartStart by SmartRecruiters (introduced in 2018)
- Features: Designed for businesses with under 250 employees
- Pricing: Free for up to 10 active job postings