Tom Sorensen | NPAworldwide

I only looked at your resume for 7 seconds

Let’s be real: Recruiters glance at your resume for just 7 seconds. That’s the brutal truth of recruiting. In that blink, they don’t read—they skim.

Skimming is reading a document rapidly to get a general overview of the material. 

Do you want to know what recruiters look at in your resume? With just 7 seconds, recruiters do not read your resume; they only skim it.  

What grabs attention? Here’s what recruiters focus on for all of the 7 seconds:

• Your name
• The first few lines of your introduction (just below your name, and contact)
• Your current title, company and the starting date
• The previous titles, company names, and their start and end dates
• Education credentials

Groundbreaking research using eye-tracking

The Shocking Truth: Research from LADDERS reveals that recruiters decide “fit or not fit” in under 7 seconds using eye-tracking tech. That means you have mere moments to make an impact. Read more…

We are distracted by visuals like pictures, graphs

Cut the clutter because visual distractions like photos and graphs waste precious time. Read more…

Is a 2-page resume better than a 1-page?

The two-page rule remains when you have more than five years of experience. Read more…

Botox your resume with these 6 great tips

Always keep in mind that the resume only has one function: to get you an interview. Read more…

Is it time for a Resume and LinkedIn Makeover?

If your resume or LinkedIn needs a serious overhaul, contact a pro like Tom Sorensen, a PARWCC-certified writer. Contact here.