Every day, recruiters scan dozens of resumes eagerly
searching for that perfect candidate. Crafting
an eye-catching resume is every candidate’s goal, however many resumes end up
in the ‘no fit’ pile because they are cluttered or hard to navigate.
In a recent study by The Ladders*, recruiter behavior was
examined and it was found that recruiters typically only spend about 6 seconds reviewing
individual resumes before making a yes/no decision.
Also, recruiters generally spend almost 80% of this time
focused on the following data points:
- Name
- Current title/company
- Current position start/end dates
- Previous title/company
- Previous position start/end dates
- Education
The study also examined perceptions about resume quality and recruiters reported that the best resumes featured:
- An organized, easy-to-read layout with a distinct visual hierarchy
- Clear, concise data that is consistently formatted
Additionally, regarding online profiles, it was found that:
- Visual distractions such as images and ads drew attention away from more pertinent information such as skills and experience
- In some cases, irrelevant data such as candidates’ age, race or gender may have affected reviewer perceptions
resume that is clear, concise and easy to read is vital.
* Original Source: Keeping an eye on recruiter behavior. The Ladders. 2014.; To see updated statistics, visit: Eye-Tracking Study. Ladders. 2018.
