If you’ve been on TikTok and have seen any resume tips lately, you’ve probably been given some pretty bad advice. What are White Font Hacks, why are people talking about them so much, and do they actually work?
In a new era where job hunters routinely submit 100… 300… as many as 900!! Resumes into the void that is ATS without realizing why their strategies aren’t working… (it’s their formatting…) it’s no wonder that some people have come up with some… um… more unconventional strategies.
One such strategy that has gained traction is the "white font hack," where applicants attempt to outsmart Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) by hiding keywords or even entire job listings in white text within their resumes. The idea is to trick the ATS into thinking you are a perfect match without alerting human eyes.
While it may sound like a smart idea, the reality is that white font hacks won’t outsmart most ATS software, or land you a good job… for a variety of reasons:
Most modern ATS software is sophisticated enough to detect all text, no matter the color
While white font hacks work on some ATS, most high-value employers use better software
ATS will provide a plain text version of your resume to the human that will decide if you are hire-worthy!
Keywords provided without context will be seen as lazy, cheating, or lying if you don’t actually have those skills
A too-high match percentage to the job listing may disqualify you as not being a “real” candidate
Repeated attempts to beat the system may get you automatically discarded from an employer you really want
In short, in the off-chance a white font hack does get your foot in the door, it probably won’t be to a great employer… and you might get caught in a lie when the interviewer realizes you don’t have the experience or skills you claimed to!
Instead of trying gimmicks and hacks, we recommend focusing on:
Ensuring you have a well-formatted resume free of common errors that trip up ATS
Tailor each resume to the specific job you’re applying to… only add skills you really have, and explain how you have them in context of your real experiences
You’ll end up applying to waaaaay fewer positions, and not waste your time or embarrass yourself in an interview!
