Not long ago a friend and associate, Matt Charney wrote an article wrote an article that I though to be both truthful and hilarious. The article was featured on ERE.net and was entitled, A Bullet Point to the Head. So far, Bullet Point has received myriad comments. Weeks have passed and still missives are being delivered on a regular basis.
Most people loved the article, but some did take exception to it. I found the comments especially interesting. As the co-founder of a background checking service, I deal all the time with human resources managers, headhunters, and staffing people of every stripe. Many now find their clients are asking that they perform the necessary background checks, and that is what we do.
Since I have a limited knowledge of the life and times of an executive recruiter, I found the article refreshing. But some of the comments also drew my attention. Recently, one such comment came from a woman who is writing a book. The writer, Darrin Grella, noted that as part of her research, 43% of the two thousand persons interviewed spend one minute or less reviewing a resume. She added that 14% of those interview spent thirty seconds or less reviewing a resume.
This is pretty notable. One minute or less, let alone 30 seconds or less, is a short time for that much labor and thought that goes into preparing a resume. And as Matt Charney noted in his Bullet Point article, you can forget about the cover letter. Maybe it’s there for a single purpose, to keep the coffee stains off the resume.
Anyway, if this is the statistic, then I most certainly look forward to reading Darrin Grella’s book, when it is published.
Check them out before you hire.
2 replies on “Screening Employment Resumes”
Gordon,
Thank you for your kind words and for publishing my comment regarding research I have conducted over the last 2 years to compile helpful and legitimate work in constructing my upcoming book, The 10 Key Interviewing T.E.C.H.N.I.Q.U.E.S. The ebook will be available over the next week (9.6.09) and the actual hard copy is still in production and will be coming closer to October.
Regardless, thank you. By the way, you mentioned in the article that I am a woman. I can see that as a compliment on some levels however I would prefer to be classified under the male category. Hahahaha!
Please encourage your subscribers (maybe in a separate featured article) to visit http://www.theinterviewgods.com for cutting edge career advice and more information about this exciting and differentiating guide guaranteed to cure the nervous jitters and make someone a master of the interviewing craft.
Thanks again.
Darrin, my apologies for confusing your gender. I will indeed refer readers to your website. And the world should know that you do in fact need to shave every morning. Good luck to you and your book.