What is Resume Spamming?

Resume spamming refers to the act of submitting resumes to a multitude of job postings with little attention to the job description, required qualifications, or general job fit. Resume spamming is a byproduct of the internet age and the advent of online job postings. While posting jobs online makes it easier for employers to reach larger and more diverse applicant pools, it has also made it easier for job seekers to apply for jobs in larger volumes.

Job seekers can submit their resumes with a simple click of the button, without necessarily taking the time to assess their suitability for the position. The prevalence of resume spamming means that, in any given applicant pool, a significant proportion of the applicants will be completely unqualified or unfit for the position, and their resumes will essentially amount to spam. For hiring managers, this creates additional work and makes the hiring process more time-consuming. To combat resume spammers, many organizations turn to applicant tracking systems (ATS) or other filtering criteria such as pre-employment tests.