Your Resume Gets 7 Seconds: Here’s What Recruiters Really See

Recruiters don’t read resumes the way you think they do. They scan. Fast. In fact, studies show the average time is just seven seconds before they decide whether you’re moving ahead or not.

That’s less than the time it takes to open an email.

What They Actually Look At

In those seven seconds, recruiters are not admiring colors, borders, or icons. They’re scanning for:

• Does this candidate’s background fit the role?
  
• Is there proof of results, not just duties?
  
• Is the resume clean and easy to read?

That’s it. Fancy designs don’t help. Buzzwords like “hardworking,” “team player,” or “fast learner” don’t help either. What does? Real contributions.

Instead of saying “Handled client accounts,” write “Managed 12 accounts and grew revenue by 18% in six months.”
Instead of “Worked on marketing campaigns,” say “Ran three digital campaigns that brought in 2,000+ qualified leads.”

Concrete. Clear. Valuable.

Why So Many Resumes Fail

Most resumes don’t get rejected because the person isn’t capable. They fail because the document is bloated, confusing, or ATS-unfriendly. Sometimes it’s the wrong template. Sometimes it’s over-designed. Sometimes it just doesn’t show impact.

The sad part? Many strong candidates never even get to the interview stage because of this.

Building a Resume That Works

This is where preparation matters. A recruiter-friendly resume isn’t about creative fonts or buzzwords—it’s about clarity, structure, and evidence of impact. And once your resume gets you through the door, you need the communication skills, portfolio, and interview readiness to back it up.

At Habbinson’s 1:1 Career Workshop, we’ve built a practical system around exactly that. In one live 3-hour session, you cover the five essentials that recruiters and hiring managers care about most:

• A simple, one-page CV that’s ATS-friendly and achievement-focused.
  
• A 30-second self-introduction you can confidently use in interviews.
  
• Mini projects in marketing, data, or sales you can showcase in a portfolio.
  
• A clean, online portfolio draft (Notion, GitHub, or Behance).
  
• Recruiter-ready outreach messages and mock interview practice.

The best part? You leave the session with real, usable outputs: a draft CV, a recruiter email, one role-specific mini project, and a working portfolio. Not just notes or theory—actual career assets.

If seven seconds decide your resume’s fate, shouldn’t you make sure every second works in your favor?

Join Our Next 1:1 Career Workshop