Automated systems often take the first whack at the pile of resumes that flood in for every job opening, and it helps if job seekers know how to think like the machine.

For tips on getting the most of recruiting software, we turned to Josh Bersin, chief executive of the human resources consulting firm Bersin & Associates in Oakland, Calif.; Vinda Rao, marketing manager for Bullhorn, an applicant tracking system software company in Boston; and Doug Schade, a recruiter for the Winter, Wyman Cos., based in Waltham. — Katie Johnston, Globe Staff