The 10-Second Rule: How to Structure a CV That Recruiters Actually Read
The “F-Pattern” Reading Style
Eye-tracking studies show that people read web pages and documents in an “F” shape. They scan the top headline, move down the left side, and scan across subheadings.
This means your most important information (Job Titles, Key Skills) must be aligned to the Left. Never hide dates or titles on the far right where eyes rarely look.
3 Ways to Pass the 10-Second Scan
Use “Action Verbs,” Not Duties
Don’t write “Responsible for sales.” That is boring. Write “Increased sales by 20%.” Start every bullet point with a power verb like Managed, Created, Led, Developed.
Quantify Your Success
Numbers pop off the page. The human eye is drawn to digits. Instead of “Managed a team,” write “Managed a team of 12 people.” instead of “Good budget skills,” write “Managed a $50,000 budget.”
Ditch the “Objective” Statement
Don’t write “I am looking for a job to learn…” Companies don’t care what you want; they care what you can do for them. Replace it with a “Professional Summary” that highlights your top 3 achievements.
A clean layout with bullet points wins every time.
Duties vs. Achievements
| Duties (Average CV) 😐 | Achievements (Winning CV) 🏆 |
|---|---|
| “Wrote articles for the blog.” | “Wrote 20 articles that generated 10k views.” |
| “Handled customer complaints.” | “Resolved 50+ complaints daily with 98% satisfaction.” |
| “Used Java and Python.” | “Built a POS system using Java, reducing errors by 15%.” |
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