By Courtney Connley-Hampton
Publication Date: 2026-05-08 18:38:00
A recruiter looks at a resume during a job fair in New York City.
Chris Hondros/Getty Images
In today’s competitive job market, it’s safe to say your resume will be scanned, not read, by hiring managers and recruiters.
Because hundreds of applications are received per open position, employers spend an average of just 11.2 seconds on each resume, according to a study by AI-powered interview platform InterviewPal. Although this number varies from company to company, the reality is that in today’s world of artificial intelligence, the decision to advance a candidate is sometimes influenced by AI tools that filter applications before a human even sees them. Therefore, a small mistake or missed opportunity can easily cost a candidate a chance at advancement.
Forbes We spoke to some recruiters and workplace experts about what they’re actually looking for in the first few seconds of scanning your resume – and how you can increase your chances of moving on to the next round.
