How to get in front of a hiring manager instead of an ATS
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Applications can stall in an applicant tracking system before a person reads them. The routes that skip the pile are referrals, direct introductions and platforms built around them. Jack & Jill is built for exactly this. Jack scans 15M+ open roles, learns what you want, and might even introduce you directly to the decision maker, skipping the application altogether.
How the filter works
A popular role can attract far more applications than anyone can read, so companies use applicant tracking systems to sort them first, and a hiring manager may only see a shortlist. A strong candidate with an unusual background can sit in the pile, unread.
Picture two candidates for the same role. One sits in a long list of applicants and waits. The other is introduced to the hiring manager and gets a conversation.
Better formatting only goes so far. The bigger question is which routes put you in front of the person hiring, so the filter matters less.
The routes that reach a hiring manager
There are three, and they work for different people.
- Referrals from someone inside the company. A referred candidate arrives with trust attached. The catch is that a referral depends on knowing the right person at the right time.
- Direct outreach to the hiring manager. A short, specific message about why you fit the role can open a conversation. The catch is volume. Doing this well for every role in a search is a full time job on top of the one you have.
- Direct introductions through an agent who knows both sides. This is the route Jack & Jill exists to build. When there is a mutual fit between you and a company hiring through Jill, Jack might make a direct introduction to the decision maker, skipping the application altogether. Jack answers to the candidate and Jill answers to the company.
A referral is one door, opened once. An agent keeps scanning the whole market, so a fit can surface on roles you would not have searched for.
The routes in short
- Applicant tracking systems sort applications, so a route that skips the application sidesteps the sorting.
- Referrals depend on who you know, and direct outreach takes time for every role.
What candidates and companies say
Jack & Jill works with hundreds of thousands of professionals and thousands of companies. If you want to read what people say about the experience, there is a roundup of what candidates and companies say. For a wider look at how AI agents compare with the tools you already use, see our guide to AI job search tools for 2026.
Is this route right for you
- How hands on you want your search to be. Jack works best when you talk to him honestly about what you want, and check in on the roles he brings you.
- Whether direct introductions suit your situation. They are a possibility when a mutual fit exists in Jill's network, and nobody can promise one for every search.
- How you feel about applications. The position here is fewer, better applications. If your plan is to send as many applications as possible, this route will not suit you.
- Your timeline. A search built on introductions and preparation takes patience, and it fits a few weeks better than a single weekend.
Questions about skipping the ATS
Does a direct introduction skip the application stage?
It can. An introduction goes to the decision maker directly, so there may be no application in a queue to filter. It is a possibility when there is a mutual fit, and nobody can promise one for every role.
Is a referral still worth asking for?
Yes. A referral from someone who knows your work gives a hiring manager a reason to take your name seriously. The limitation is coverage. You need the right contact at the right company at the right time, which is why it can sit alongside an agent scanning the market for you.
Will Jack apply to jobs for me?
No. Jack never applies on your behalf. He finds fits, might introduce you directly when there is a mutual fit, and helps you prepare. When an application is the right move, you write it and you send it, with his feedback on your side.
Do not let the ATS be your only route
An applicant tracking system only matters when your only route in is an application. Referrals, direct outreach and introductions through an agent are other ways in, and an agent can work across your whole search rather than a single door. If that appeals, tell Jack what your dream job looks like. He scans the market day and night and brings you roles worth your time, and when there is a mutual fit he might even introduce you directly to the person doing the hiring. See how Jack works and start with a conversation.