Resume Quiz

What is the average time a resume is read by a potential employer?

• 2 minutes

• 45 seconds

• 5 minutes

• 7 seconds

Answer explanation

The amount of time recruiters spend on reading a resume usually depends and varies from company to company. Some companies want to thoroughly scan a resume, while others may skim it for a few seconds. Additionally, the number of job applicants may also affect this assessment.

According to CV statistics, what % of resumes are ignored if candidates have an unprofessional email address?

• 15%

• 76%

• 100%

• 40%

Answer explanation

The importance of resumes is immense—your style and tone of writing can play a huge role in why you’re not invited to job interviews.

For example, 43% of resumes are excluded because they’re written in the third person or have many spelling or grammatical mistakes. 

More than 40% of hiring managers and recruiters reported that applicants lacked the role’s requirements and what other thing?

• email address

• references

• degree

• soft skills

Answer explanation

Soft skills include:

Communication 

Compromise

Creative thinking

Dependability

Leadership

Listening

Work ethic 

Teamwork

Positivity  

Motivation 

Problem-solving 

Critical thinking

Around 88% of the resumes are rejected due to what?

• including a photo

• including a family member as a reference

• not receiving a high school diploma

• no work experience

Answer explanation

According to a job site, The Ladders, a photograph might distract recruiters from the resume’s actual contents.

Future employers will be looking at the photograph itself 19% of the time.

Considering that recruiters spend only 6–7 seconds per resume, this interesting fact about resumes is quite understandable.

What % of candidates who apply for jobs are qualified for the role?

• 10%

• 35%

• 60%

• 90%

Answer explanation

For any given job position, there is an average of 118 applicants that apply for the post. But only a tiny percentage of them have the necessary qualifications and skills for the job.

What does that tell you?

What % of sent resumes result in an interview?

• 3%

• 10%

• 25%

• 40%

Answer explanation

Considering that the average online job posting gets around 250 resumes, only a small percentage of those candidates get an opportunity for an interview.

Most companies interview only or less than ten candidates for a position; however, there are exceptions. 

85% of recruiters agree that job applicants do what?

• plagiarize their resumes

• hire someone to write their resumes

• embellish or inflate their skills

• withhold pertinent information from their resumes

Answer explanation

Should you make yourself sound better than you actually are? Why or why not?