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| Is your CV 6-Seconds Worthy? |
You've Got Six Seconds
I was recently told the
average recruiter spends about six seconds on a resume and then decides
whether to keep reading, or toss it in the 'no' pile. Additionally,
their eye works in a Z pattern, meaning left-to-right across the top of
the resume, and then back down the left-hand side.
Top-Fold = Prime Real Estate
This
means the top part of your resume is where all the action is. If you
don't, "Get them at Hello," you won't be moving on. So, here are a few
tips:
1) Don't waste the top-fold with a long-winded, self-serving
promotional paragraph. It won't get read. Objective statements and
overly salesy intros don't work either.
2) Create an "Experience Summary" that lists quantifiable skills and the key information required to even get a shot at the job.
3) Don't use a font smaller than 11 point or in a fancy style. Too hard on the eyes.
Remember, Resumes Don't Get You Hired!
Even
if you create an effective resume, please don't assume it will greatly
improve your chances of getting a call from an online application. These
days, 8 out 10 resumes aren't even seen by human eyes. Most online
applicants never get a shot at the job they apply to. Why? 80%+ of all
jobs filled today can be attributed to referrals. Someone inside the
organization refers the candidate that gets hired. Hiring a referral is a
lot easier than going blurry-eyed reviewing hundreds of online
applicants. Plus, the referral makes them more credible, as compared to
an online applicant nobody has worked with.
The takeaway:
You need to get your optimized resume in the hands of hiring managers.
That usually happens when you know them, or know someone who knows them.
It's far less likely to happen when you blindly apply online and hope
for the best.
A good resume needs to be used with a proactive job
search strategy. All the formatting in the world won't change the odds
of it getting reviewed. The only thing that does is a referral!
What other resume tips can you suggest to pass the six-second test?
Courtesy of J. T O'Donell