GHDC: Your Résumé MAY NOT Get Read!

Get Hired During COVID Misconception #4: Your resume Stands Out, Therefore it Will Get Read

Most of the jobs I’ve posted in the past couple years have had dozens, if not hundreds, of applicants. In many cases, getting your resume reviewed is luck of the draw. Some hiring managers only look at the latest 10-15 applications in the queue. If you’re #16, you get skipped over.

Some managers go in chronological order because they might feel it’s more ethical to start with the people who got in line first. If you’re not in the first 25 applications, then you’re outta luck.

Some managers play to their biases. Perhaps they want to hire a woman, or someone from their hometown, or a name that’s easy to pronounce. I hate to break it to you, but even the most fair and unbiased managers play to their own biases. 

Thankfully, there are some companies out there that anonymize applicant metadata and will withhold even the most basic information (like a name) from the hiring committee. This is rare.

Advice from external recruiter Allen Plunkett:

Don’t add photos or other biographical data that could lend to someone’s bias. Having your resume stand out can be a good thing if you are applying for a creative role, but outside of having a creative resume, stick to normal formats that have the very relevant and critical information that aligns with their verbiage and information.

If you’re a hiring manager, how do you sort through candidates and determine who to review and who to talk to?

Purchase our course “Get Hired During COVID.” If you're unemployed, take advantage of our pay-what-you-can model on our website, or send us an email at hello@edifycontent.com.