5 Tips to Screen Resumes Quickly!

Recruiters spend on an average 6.25 seconds scanning a candidate resume. That might seem a short time, however, when there are hundreds of resumes to be screened, it comes down to a considerable time frame.

Here are a few CV screening tips to help you make your CV screening process more effective:

Look for errors and inconsistency: A resume with typographic errors, lack of neatness or inconsistent formatting most probably indicates a candidate’s lack of attention to detail or his/her lack of seriousness about his/her application. You wish to recruit only those who really aspire for the job, hence weed out these applicants at the first step.

Check for completeness of application: You would want the candidates to mention their qualifications and work experience against your job description. If you come across resumes who do not show these features, they need to be shown the bin. They are incomplete, which reflects on the candidates’ lack of a thorough approach.

Look for accomplishments: Look for resumes that show accomplishments, rather than only responsibilities. Responsibilities just list down what was done on the job, while accomplishments can show that the candidate is an achiever, and how to get things done. For example: If a candidate managed to increase the company sales by a respectable margin, that says a lot more about his/her capability and skills. Also, resumes with extracurricular achievements provide insight into the ‘cultural mindset’ of the applicant. 

Trace the career path: An aspirational and skilled person will have an identifiable career path with adequate progression. Gaps in education or employment may act as eliminators based on your company’s hiring philosophy. Do not shy away from selecting people with unrelated career jumps (such as a change of stream or an entrepreneurship break), this may indicate a willingness to take risks and pursue new ideas. Research the possible industry career paths to assess this effectively.

Add-ons like a cover letter: Given two resumes of similar potential, one with and other without the cover letter, which will you choose? Writing a cover letter indicates genuine interest and extra efforts taken by the candidate. It may also indicate that the candidate has researched the company/position showcasing an enterprising attitude. Take your pick!

It is a good idea is to prefer resumes that are personalized and allow you to know the ‘person’ rather than just the professional.

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