Founder, JobScoutly
Gerardo Barrera is the founder of JobScoutly. He has spent roughly ten years building HR software, work that has included applicant tracking systems and the resume parsers inside them — the software that reads an uploaded file, decides which text is a job title and which is a date, and hands a structured record to a recruiter.
That's an unusual vantage point for resume advice. Most guidance about "beating the ATS" is written from the outside, inferring how these systems behave from their results. JobScoutly's guides are written from the other side of it: what a parser actually extracts, which layout choices reliably break it, and what hiring teams see once a resume has been through the pipeline.
He writes JobScoutly's guides on resume formatting, ATS screening, and how AI tools fit into a job search.
The software isn't detecting you — no major applicant tracking system checks for AI authorship. Humans are, and they're not spotting AI so much as spotting sameness.
The exact prompts, in order, from blank page to finished document — plus the one editing pass that separates a resume that works from one recruiters skip.
Every PM resume lists Jira, SQL, and roadmaps — which is why the stack tells a recruiter nothing. The signal that identifies a PM archetype is the metric you owned. Here's how to read it and aim your resume.
"Software Engineer" isn't one job — it's five or six, and they want different evidence. Here's how to read a posting to find which archetype it really is, and adapt your resume in 10 minutes.
Being an early applicant on LinkedIn makes you 3x more likely to land the job. Here's exactly how to use alerts, the Under 10 applicants filter, and Easy Apply to get there before the crowd.
Yes — but not from scratch, and not the whole thing. Here's the archetype system that gets you a tailored resume in 10 minutes per application instead of an hour.
When a job is on both Indeed and the company's careers page, which should you use? Here's how each routes to the employer, when to apply on both, and how to find the direct posting.
Applying to several roles at one company can help or hurt, depending on how you do it. Here's how many is too many, how company size changes the rules, and how to avoid looking unfocused.
A job you saw weeks ago is posted again — is it worth applying? Usually yes, but a repost works differently than you'd think. Here's what it means and whether you need to reapply.
LinkedIn Easy Apply is fast, but a tailored resume gives you more control. Here's how Easy Apply works, what the employer sees, and when to use each.
Indeed lets you build a resume on the platform or upload your own file. Here's what happens to your upload, how to control who sees it, and which gives you more control.
Learn how to write a cover letter that complements your resume, shows employers why you're the right fit, and gets you more interviews.
Learn the correct cover letter format — from font and margins to structure and file type — so your letter looks professional and gets read.
Avoid the most common cover letter mistakes that cause hiring managers to reject applications — and learn how to fix each one.
Learn how to write a compelling cover letter when you don't have traditional work experience — using education, skills, and enthusiasm.
Find out when a cover letter is required, when it's optional but recommended, and the rare cases when you can skip it.
Find out the ideal cover letter length — from word count and paragraph count to formatting tips that keep it concise.
Learn how to write a cover letter opening that grabs the hiring manager's attention — with formulas, examples, and what to avoid.
Learn what behavioral interview questions are, how to answer them using the STAR method, and see examples for the 15 most common questions.
The most common interview mistakes that cost candidates the job — and how to avoid every one of them.
Everything you need to prepare for a job interview — from researching the company and practicing answers to following up and negotiating your offer.
Learn when and how to negotiate your salary — with scripts, research strategies, and advice on what to negotiate beyond base pay.
The best questions to ask at the end of an interview — organized by what you actually want to learn, with questions to avoid.
Learn how to answer the most common interview opener with a clear formula, strong examples, and the mistakes to avoid.
Learn when to send a thank-you email, what to include, and see copy-paste templates for every interview situation.
Everything you need to nail a video interview — from camera setup and lighting to body language and common technical issues.
Learn how to write a resume that positions you for a new career — even without direct experience in the field.
Not sure what belongs on a resume in 2026? This guide breaks down every major resume decision — from contact info and resume length to GPA, LinkedIn, references, and ATS-friendly formatting.
Find out whether your resume should be one page or two — and why the answer depends on your experience level.
Learn how to write strong resume bullet points using action verbs and quantified results — with before-and-after examples for every career stage.
Learn what a resume headline is, where it goes, and how to write one that grabs a recruiter's attention in seconds.
Learn whether you need a professional summary on your resume, how to write one that grabs attention, and when a summary works better than an objective.
Learn how to write a strong resume when you don't have traditional work experience — using education, skills, and projects.
Find out when listing your GPA strengthens your resume and when it's better to leave it off.
Find out whether to list references on your resume or use the space for something more valuable.
Learn when to include your address on a resume and when to leave it off — plus what to use instead.
Learn whether to include your LinkedIn URL on your resume and how to do it right.