How Many Minutes Are Spent Reading a Resume

posted by Todd Raphael on June 30, 2009 on ERENet

New
numbers from a TalentSpring survey of 208 organizations in the U.S. and
Canada (50 large companies, 39 medium-size, 205 small, and 114
agencies).

• 72% of agencies see signs of economic growth. 67% of mid-size organizations do, and 45% of small companies.


• The average recruiter spends 4.6 hours a day on sourcing.


• The average recruiter spends 6 minutes reading a resume.


• It takes an average of 38 days to fill a position.

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• 
  

  I have always heard 8 seconds for a resume which is about right if you have a large volume of open reqs.

  
  
  
  
  



• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   Katie McNab 
  
  13 hours ago
  

  Um.  6 minutes??   10 resumes per hour??  That is clearly nonsense.

  
  
  
  
  



• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   Jim Shaw
  
  15 hours ago
  

  An
  average of six minutes reading a resume?  Really?  The number I usually
  see is 30 seconds which is much more realistic.  The only time a
  recruiter spends more than 30 seconds on a resume is if they like it
  and are going to seriously consider the candidate.

  
  


• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
   Teresa Bustamante
  
  1
  point
  
  16 hours ago
  

  I
  beg to differ on avg. minute reviewing resume.  As a solid recruiter at
  Wal-Mart, it was much less.  There were tons of resumes due to name
  recognition and, honestly, there were a lot of great resumes.  You
  become VERY good at spotting excellence, longevity, skills....  

  
  

  However, if more great companies would hone sourcing skills, the whole dynamic would change.