Daily Muse, Inc, and DailyWorth recently published an informative article titled “4 Lies (and 1 Truth) About Applicant Tracking Systems,” which addresses the following important question: Should we be crafting our resumes for machines or humans?

Below we’ve encapsulated the key points from that piece — helpful tips to ensure that your resume gets noticed. 

Lie #1: You should write your resume for a computer, not a person.

•  Matt Sigelman, CEO of Burning Glass, recommends customizing your resume for each job you apply for.

Lie #2: Employer-screening software is replacing humans.

• Search-technology programs are not replacing humans, but many companies continue to employ more traditional screening software.

Lie #3: Embed keywords from the job description in a tiny, white font at the bottom of your resume in case it’s screened by a tracking system.

• Daniel Steinbock, creator of TagCrowd, recommends adding a keyword section on the first page of your resume.

Lie #4: Companies instantly discard most resumes for failing to include certain keywords.

• The majority of resumes actually do make it into the database.

Truth #1: Ditch graphics on your resume — or all your hard work will land on the trash heap.

• Kathy Downs, a Robert Half Finance & Accounting recruiting manager, says that when graphic resumes are uploaded to an employer’s system, the formatting is not communicated on the other side.

For more advice on adding keywords to your resume, consult our Sample Keywords by Functional Specialty document or our blog entry “Skills and Keywords to Help You Land That Job.”