As job sites such as LinkedIn, Indeed and ZipRecruiter rely on artificial intelligence to sort candidates into jobs, there are a number of steps that job seekers can take to avoid improve their visibility, The Washington Post reported.

Ensuring that a user's profile is complete is basic and important, particularly on LinkedIn, which now offers a skills-matching filter for recruiters to determine which of one's skills are relevant to the job. The site also allows job seekers to list up to five top skills. ZipRecruiter focuses on employment, education, skills, and licenses and certifications. Indeed suggested both a profile and a résumé to be uploaded so that the job. site can provide better job matches.

“If you’re going to be on a platform, have a reasonably complete profile,” Manish Raghavan, an assistant professor of information technology and computer science at the MIT Sloan School of Management, told the Post. “It’s not much effort to have a basic profile with the important points.”

Candidates may also want to consider whether to post more information about their skills or experiences, which could increase the chances of being noticed by AI bots or human recruiters. The downside to providing such information publicly is the cost to one’s privacy, Raghavan said.

Using common keywords can help to find matches. Looking at several openings for a type of job sought, then incorporating them into one’s profile by demonstrating how those skills and qualifications were applied, may help the candidate get through filters.

Despite the technology, some basics still apply. They include correct spelling and simple designs and formats to avoid confusing AI. A candidate can also “train” AI by regularly searching for and clicking on roles the candidate wants the sites to recommend. That may help the sites understand the candidate’s preferences, Raghavan said.

Candidates should also take advantage of features such as Indeed’s “searchable on Indeed” settings and LinkedIn’s “Open To Work” setting to alert recruiters and employers of their availability and interest. But they can also use the platforms to network with people who can help in the job search. Seeking out people who work at the prospective employer and connecting with them may raise a candidate’s profile with those responsible for hiring.

For those who want to understand what job sites know about them, consumers can request that information. The California Consumer Privacy Act, which went into effect in 2020, allows consumers living in California to request information about what data a company has collected about them and how the company uses it, The Post advised that most job sites honor such requests for all users, even those outside of California.