I ran a tiny experiment with a client last month: two identical resumes submitted to 12 postings, one named Alex_Rivera_Product_Manager_2026.pdf and one just Resume.pdf, and the branded file got 5 more opens in the ATS. It’s a small sample, but it makes me think your personal branding starts even at the file name — recruiters, is this a fluke or do you notice? Easy win for candidates either way.
It’s really interesting that the branded file got 5 more opens; I totally believe it’s not a fluke. I did something similar with a candidate last year, and their portfolio link made a big difference too. It just stands out more in a crowded field — what other small tweaks have you seen pay off?
I’ve seen similar results too! Small changes like file names can really impact visibility. Have you tested with different formats, like.docx versus.pdf?