Did you know that the longer a decision maker looks at your resume, the more likely you are to get an interview? Recently research combined eye-tracking and machine learning to better understand resume decisions. The most useful finding was that Experience section dwell time predicts interview invitations.
That’s next level information. We have been conducting eye-tracking research for years. They tell us what readers are looking at, but provide no additional meaning. By applying AI, we now know which parts of the resume are most important for getting job interviews.
I was a regular search consultant for over 25 years. For the past ten years I have been writing resumes for managers and board members. When I started searching, the first question I asked candidates after interviews was, “How long were you there?” That was the best way for me to know how well the interview went. So it makes sense that a resume’s dwell time also predicts success.
So let’s talk about how you can make the Experience section of your resume appealing to readers through design and content choices.
Eliminate walls of text
People don’t read word for word. They scan and search for information relevant to their needs. Large blocks of text lose readers because they are difficult to scan.
In How People Read Online: The Eyetracking Evidence ReportThe Nielsen Norman Group, a user experience company, described a wall of text as “a great deterrent that immediately makes users reconsider their engagement.” To avoid that, limit the resume text blocks to three lines, four if necessary. Nothing else about your resume matters if people don’t read it.
Focus on experience
Help readers navigate your resume by providing clear section labels (professional experience, education, skills, volunteer work, etc.).
Nielsen Norman also said that many readers judge in less than a second whether a page is worth it. They judge before they even start the infamous six-second scan. Because the Experience section drives interviews, place it below the summary at the top of your resume. You need to show your relevance immediately to capture deeper reader attention.
Use a consistent structure
Present your recent experience in one consistent structure. I includes:
- Company names
- Company descriptions
- The locations where my clients worked for companies
- Job titles
- Dates of employment
- Job scope descriptions
- Impact Statements.
I always place company names and job titles in the left margin to assist readers who are scanning. They want that information. Give it to them effortlessly.
Also lightens readers’ cognitive load by separating task scope information and impact bullets. Describe the scope in a narrative paragraph. Follow that with impact bullets. Don’t force your readers to sort the scope and impact. They want you to tell them what your role was and how you performed in it. Make it easy for them if you want to keep their attention.
Arrange your impact stories based on the needs of your readers
Identify the deliverables of a task. To do this, use job vacancies, talk to insiders and ask questions about AI platforms. Then write your impact bullets to convince readers that you can succeed in their role. Let go of what you consider important about you; you’ll have time for that later. To capture and keep your readers’ attention, tailor the content and order of your bullets to their most critical needs.
Provide white space
White space makes resumes easier to read and understand. That convenience increases dwell time because it makes readers more willing to participate. Use these minimum parameters:
- Three-quarter inch top and bottom margins
- One inch side margins
- Half point space between bulleted impact statements
If you need more space, edit your content; don’t mess up the white space: you’ll lose readers.
When I see a busy resume, I think the person hasn’t learned what’s important to their audience. That’s why they share everything they think might be relevant. That undermines the chance that readers will find what they need, and therefore the dwell time.
Readers review resumes and make decisions
I’ve talked a lot about readers here, but the reality is that the people looking at your resume are reviewers. They are watching your presentation. They then decide whether you seem to meet their needs enough to deserve more of their time. Make it easy for them to understand your relevance, and they will be less likely to focus on you.
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