A new AI-powered resume builder called ApplyAssists launched on Hacker News this week, positioning itself differently from the crowded field of ATS-optimization tools flooding the market. The project comes from a developer named Daniel who spent about a year job hunting and grew frustrated with existing solutions that promised results but delivered only rejections.

Why Existing Resume Builders Fall Short

According to the Show HN post, most AI resume builders currently focus exclusively on two things: ATS keyword scoring and template design. While these features sound useful in theory, Daniel found they didn't translate into actual interview invitations or job offers. "All the AI resume builders are focusing only on ATS scoring and templates," he wrote. The disconnect between what these tools optimize for and what hiring managers actually respond to became his central thesis for building something new.

Entering the Google XYZ Formula

The turning point came when Daniel discovered content from Farah Sharghi, a former recruiter at Google, Lyft, Uber, and TikTok who advocates for what she calls the "XYZ formula" for resume writing. Rather than stuffing resumes with keywords or relying on flashy templates, this approach emphasizes clear, accomplishment-driven descriptions that follow a specific structure: accomplish [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]. The methodology aims to make every bullet point demonstrate tangible impact in terms hiring managers can quickly assess.

What ApplyAssists Actually Does

The tool appears to guide users through restructuring their work experience using the XYZ framework, helping translate traditional job duties into achievement-focused statements. Rather than asking users to simply paste their existing resume and run it through a template generator, ApplyAssists seems designed to coach writers on how to reframe their background in ways that resonate with both ATS systems and human readers. The approach acknowledges that while ATS filtering matters, it's only the first hurdleβ€”once a human opens your resume, the content has to land.

Key Takeaways

  • Most AI resume builders prioritize ATS keywords over actual persuasiveness
  • The XYZ formula (Accomplish X as measured by Y, by doing Z) offers an alternative structure
  • ApplyAssists targets developers frustrated with generic job search advice
  • The project comes from personal pain point rather than market research

The Bottom Line

This is a classic indie dev moveβ€”finding a gap in a saturated market through lived experience. Whether the XYZ formula lives up to its pedigree remains to be seen, but the underlying critique of ATS-obsessed resume tools deserves attention. If you're tired of tweaking keywords and still getting ghosted, this approach at least promises something different.