Really, Just 6 Seconds?

As you know, there are a lot of reasons a hiring manager will skip over a resume.  I recently read an article from ladders.com stating that on average a resume is only looked at for 6 seconds!  Even more alarming is that this is DOWN from 15 seconds a few years ago.

A resume may be skipped over due to dates of education or from a career move, or even an unusual email address.  This begs the question, how effectively are you reviewing resumes if you are only spending 6 seconds looking at it?  We actually recommend 3-5 minutes per resume even for the initial review…you read that right – 3-5 minutes.  

Don’t judge too quickly when looking over a resume.  Take notes about pros, cons, concerns, and positive attributes you identify.  You should also write questions that you will have if you choose to interview the candidate later.  

I know this may seem daunting, but keep in mind you are making a huge investment in your business.  This is not the time to risk missing a great candidate and long-term employee because you want to save a couple of minutes.