Should You Use "White Fonting" On Your Resume?

This year, a lot of Americans are looking for a new job. One recent survey identified that 96% of workers are looking for a new position, a massive figure that is the culmination of a number of workplace issues.

From wanting to escape a toxic environment, to finding a job that allows them to grow, another 40% of job seekers want to move jobs for more money to help tackle inflation and rising expenses.

And in a year where AI, specifically generative AI, has entered the mainstream, workers are more nervous than ever about "robots" taking their jobs.

That fear is echoed in a study from Pew Research Center, which looked at Americans' views on the use of AI in the hiring process.

Already, about 83% of employers, including 99% of Fortune 500 companies, use some form of automated tool as part of their hiring process. That is often in the form of an applicant tracking system (ATS), which is software that enables the electronic handling of recruitment and hiring needs.

As far back as 2015, Amazon canned a project it had developed to automate the hiring process and identify top candidates. Once it became apparent the system was not rating candidates for software developer jobs and other technical posts in a gender-neutral way, the project was pulled.

These kinds of biases are at the heart of job applicants' fears about the use of AI in the hiring process. Pew's research found that 71% of Americans oppose AI making a final hiring decision, only 7% favor it, and 22% are not sure.

White font hack

Artificial intelligence bots and digital filters such as ATS' which are used to scan résumés and cover letters aren't going anywhere.

Savvy job hunters already know that one of the best ways to get past an initial screen is to make sure that they include keywords into their résumés which match the job description of the role they are applying for.

Now though, job applicants are taking things a step further, with a hack that's being called "white fonting", or "white wording".

As with so many trends, this one emerged on TikTok where creators say the practice can make a big difference for job hunters.

It involves adding relevant keywords or the full job description into your résumé and then changing the font color to white. AI can still read it--and hopefully pass your CV onto a recruiter--but human eyes are likely to not see the "secret" white text, because it blends in.

So while you can do this, the question is, should you?

Recruiters and hiring managers aren't keen, unsurprisingly. The practice may help you to skip to the next stage, but it can also harm your chances.

You could be seen as sneaky or duplicitous. At the end of the day, you have to have work experience and a résumé that actually stands up. Wasting a recruiter's time through a white font hack isn't going to endear you to them.

Get a new job

Ultimately, the best approach for job seekers is to create a tailored résumé for each job you apply for. Including a succinct summary to the top, and adding relevant keywords from the job advertisement will help your progress.

If you're ready to put this to the test, the Science + Nature Job Board is a great place to start a fresh job hunt and contains thousands of jobs. Discover three open roles below.

Environment Specialist, NextStar Energy, Windsor

NextStar Energy will be Canada's first large-scale lithium-ion battery production plant when it begins production at its manufacturing facility which is targeted to have an annual production capacity in excess of 49 gigawatt hours. As an Environment Specialist you will be responsible for ensuring environmental compliance and driving sustainability initiatives within the manufacturing facility. A high-energy approach, with a strong sense of accountability for maintaining our high environmental standards is required.

FPGA Engineer, Science, Alameda

Science is an early stage company developing technologies for a range of serious unmet medical needs. It is looking for a highly skilled FPGA Engineer with an excellent track record of delivering robust gateware and verification testbenches. You will be responsible for helping to lay the gateware bedrock for control and communication with Science neural ASICs and embedded peripherals, and will design, develop and test FPGA.

Environmental Technician - Environmental, SPATCO Energy Solutions, North Little Rock

SPATCO Energy Solutions has been an industry leader in providing energy solutions since 1935, and is now seeking a Compliance Testing Technician to join its growing environmental team. You will perform inspections and precision tests on underground storage and dispensing equipment, and will assure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local codes.

Browse the Science + Nature Job Board to find your next career move