ATS Myths Debunked2024
'75% ATS auto-rejection' is a 2012 Preptel sales-pitch myth
The widely cited '75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before a human sees them' figure traces to a 2012 Preptel sales pitch; the company went out of business in 2013 and no methodology, study or sample size was ever published.
Primary source
The Interview Guys debunk + HR Gazette
https://blog.theinterviewguys.com/ats-resume-rejection-myth/Published 2024 — compiled by JobCannon Research.
Why this stat matters
This figure belongs to the ats myths debunkedvertical of JobCannon's ongoing review of hiring, AI, and career-outcome research. We track it because it is one of the few primary-source estimates with a published sample, methodology, or legal record. Cite the original source first; this page exists to make the figure easy to find and link to.
Related stats
- 92% of recruiters: their ATS does not auto-reject resumes (n=25)Enhancv recruiter survey via Interview Guys — 2024
- 27M skilled Americans screened out as hidden workers by ATS; 88% of employers admit the problemFuller et al., HBS / Accenture Hidden Workers 2021 — 2021
- 49% of hiring managers auto-reject suspected AI resumes (n=3,000)Resume.io, Jan 2025 — 2025
- 62% reject AI resumes that lack personalization (n=925)Resume Now AI Applicant Report, Mar 2025 — 2025
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