High-skilled workers are in high demand, leading to fierce competition for candidates who often have multiple offers. This means putting work on the resume is an important use of time. Getting key words correct might mean the hiring manager spends more time evaluating the document. But just how long to managers and HR advisers spent looking at submitted applications?
Recruiters spend more time on applications than most job seekers realise, especially when the candidate seems like a strong fit. That said, a survey by the firm Kickresume, has shown that 62% of HR professionals admit to having rejected candidates without fully reading their resumes.
This is based on a survey of 1,000 people globally. It was found that 56% of job seekers think recruiters spend 30 seconds or less on a resume, while in reality 48% of recruiters read for at least a minute, and 18% spend more than three minutes.
According to Peter Duris, Co-founder and CEO of Kickresume, in a statement sent to Digital Journal: “The results of this survey might reassure job seekers who are concerned that recruiters aren’t taking their applications seriously and giving their resumes the time they deserve. More than half the respondents believed recruiters spend 30 seconds or less reading each resume, with nearly a fifth estimating they only look at it for 10 seconds at the most.”
Duris adds: “While recruiters skim CVs to weed out unsuitable candidates, they actually spend more time reviewing individual applications than most people think. In total, 48% say they spend at least a minute reading each CV, with 18% spending more than 3 minutes.”
Regular updates?
The survey asked people how often they update their resume. While 37% update it every time they apply for a job, 21% add their most recent achievements and new skills a few times a year. 28% update it only when looking for a new job and 11% do so once a year. Only 3% say they can’t remember the last time they updated their resume.
Path to recruitment success
Improving the chance of being hired involves tailoring the curriculum vitae towards the potential employer. Notably 74% of job seekers say they orientate their resume to each role, either significantly (28%) or minor tweaks (46%). In contrast, 18% said they “rarely” tailor their resume to each job, and only 8% send the same resume to every opportunity they apply for.
Tailoring a resume to a specific job opportunity involves looking carefully at the job description and using keywords from it, such as the skills the role requires. This helps the resume to get a better rating from the types of ATS (Applicant Tracking System) tools that check how well an application matches the advertised job role.
Furthermore, 58% of candidates keep their language on their resume formal, avoiding humour. This is also seen as a measure that improves hiring chances. Despite humour often falling flat, 24% state they have considered using humour. Moreover, 13% of respondents had used some humorous elements in a previous version of their resume, and the smallest percentage at 5% include jokes on every version.
