Recent statistics indicate that, on average, a job opening attracts 250 resumes, with only 2% of applicants being invited for an interview. In such a competitive environment, having an impressive resume is essential.

Understanding the latest resume statistics and trends is important to ensure that your resume catches the attention of hiring managers.

In this article, we’ll delve into these statistics and explore the trends that will influence your job search in 2024, helping you distinguish yourself from other candidates.

General Resume Statistics

• A single corporate job opening receives an average of 250 applications.
• Over 80% of resumes are eliminated in the initial screening process, with only 1 in 10 reaching a hiring manager.
• Less than 3% of sent resumes lead to a job interview.
• Around 90% of employers, including most Fortune 500 companies, use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to manage applications. (Forbes)
• Only 25% of resumes make it past the ATS and are seen by human recruiters.
• The average time a hiring manager spends reviewing a resume is just 7 seconds.
• The ideal length of a resume is between 475 and 600 words, with resumes outside this range seen as less hireable 43% of the time.
• However, over 77% of resumes do not fall within the recommended word count range.
• On average, resumes only include about half of the keywords found in the job description, emphasizing the importance of tailoring your resume to match the job requirements.
• Despite these challenges, research shows that approximately 68% of candidates who use a professional resume writing service secure a job within 90 days of sending out their resume. (The Motley Fool)

Common Skills Used In Resume

Resume Formatting Statistics

• 60.6% of job-seekers have a one-page resume, while 29.7% opt for a two-page format. Less than 10% have resumes spanning three pages or more.
• Single-page resumes are recommended for students and those with less professional experience.
• However, 77% of employers agree that candidates with more experience should have a two-page resume.
• Research suggests that applicants with two-page resumes may be up to 2.9 times more likely to get hired than those with one-page resumes.
• Maintain relevance in your resume content, keeping it brief and focused while reserving comprehensive details for a CV or LinkedIn profile.
• For European CVs, 91% of recruiters consider two pages to be the ideal length.
• Format your resume as a PDF file for compatibility with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and clarity across different operating systems. (Business Insider)
• To enhance readability, use clear formatting techniques, such as black font color, bullet points, and a separate skills section.
• Include essential sections like contact information, work experience, education, skills, and a resume summary or objective.
• Past work experience is considered the most critical section by nearly 70% of recruiters.
• Tailor your resume to the job description, as 54% of candidates fail to do so, significantly reducing their chances of landing an interview.
• Aim for a concise resume summary of about 15 words to catch the hiring manager’s attention, avoiding cliches and excessive length.
• Utilize the reverse chronological resume format, favored by most hiring managers for its clarity and emphasis on recent experience.
• Incorporate quantifiable achievements, as 34% of recruiters view the absence of result statements as a dealbreaker.
• Use action verbs and leadership-related language to showcase your skills and accomplishments effectively.
• Avoid excessive industry jargon and prioritize keywords to ensure your resume resonates with various reviewers, including non-experts.
• Adhere to resume guidelines specific to the country you’re applying to, considering factors like including a photo, which is often discouraged in the USA due to potential biases.

Cover Letter Statistics

Here are some key insights regarding cover letters from recent surveys and research:

• A significant portion of job-seekers, around 47.4%, do not include a cover letter unless explicitly requested by the employer.
• Despite recommendations to include cover letters, 31.1% of job-seekers do not submit them at all.
• However, 21.5% of applicants always submit cover letters with their job applications.
• Among those who do send cover letters, a considerable percentage, 35.4%, make adjustments to tailor them to each job application.
• Additionally, 34.1% of job-seekers prefer to craft entirely new cover letters for each application.
• Only 30.5% of applicants submit the same cover letter for all their applications.
• Recruiters highly value customized resumes and cover letters tailored to the specific job vacancy, with 63% expressing a preference for such applications.
• 61% of recruiters consider customization, including providing a cover letter, addressing the hiring manager by name, and sharing relevant portfolio or social media links, a guaranteed way to make an application stand out.
• Nearly 40% of hiring managers pay more attention to applications that include cover letters.
• 26% of recruiters believe that cover letters play an important role in their hiring decisions.
• Around 45% of recruiters consider the absence of a cover letter as a potential reason for rejection.
• Not listing any skills in a cover letter could reduce the chances of securing an interview by as much as 35%.
• The recommended length for cover letters, according to 70% of employers, is half a page.

Job-Hunting Statistics

• On average, job seekers send out 50 resumes before finding a job, and some take over a year to secure employment.
• Around half of job-seekers make minor adjustments to their resumes for different applications, while a third create new resumes for each job.
• Networking plays a significant role in job searches, with 60% of jobs found through networking and 70% never publicly posted.
• The job search process takes about 5 months on average, with recruiters taking around 3 weeks after interviews to make hiring decisions.
• Recruiters typically spend only 8 seconds deciding on candidates’ suitability for positions.
• Job-seekers spend varying amounts of time on their job search, with most spending less than 4 hours daily and applying to one to six jobs per day.
• LinkedIn is the preferred tool for job searching, followed by online job boards and company websites, while referrals from friends significantly increase hiring chances.
• Job applications sent before 10 AM and within the first week of a vacancy being posted have higher chances of being noticed.
• Most job-seekers are currently employed full-time, with a significant portion also unemployed, indicating diverse circumstances among job-seekers.

Resume Rejection Statistics

Here are some important resume-related statistics to consider:

• Approximately 1 out of 5 recruiters will reject a candidate in under 60 seconds, often without finishing reading their resume.
• Another 25% of recruiters spend less than 30 seconds reviewing an applicant’s resume.
• Over 10% of job seekers have applied to 50 or more jobs without receiving any response.
• Nearly 80% of recruiters will reject a resume due to typos or grammar mistakes, highlighting the importance of thorough proofreading.
• Clichés on resumes, such as describing oneself as a “team player” or “hard worker,” can lead to rejection by over 50% of recruiters.
• Overly complicated design and layout choices, including clashing fonts, cluttered images, or emojis, may deter more than 40% of recruiters.
• Using an informal tone in resumes may lead to rejection by 84% of recruiters.
• Writing about oneself in the third person or using personal pronouns like “I” or “me” is discouraged, as it leads to rejection by over 40% of recruiters. (Business Insider)
• Having an unprofessional email address can result in rejection by over 35% of recruiters; it’s recommended to use a variation of firstname_lastname@gmail.com.
• Nearly 50% of recruiters consider overly long resumes as a reason for rejection, with 17% considering resumes longer than a single page as deal-breakers.
• A significant percentage of candidates, up to 72%, admit to lying on their resumes, typically about education, professional experience, job tenure, or skills. (Business Insider)
• However, 75% of hiring managers have caught lies on resumes, leading to the disqualification of the candidates.