Insights from Zety’s Recruiting Preferences Report: Key Factors Influencing Hiring Decisions

Zety, a career service focused on helping individuals enhance their resumes and cover letters, has unveiled the findings of its Recruiting Preferences Report. This report surveys 753 recruiters about their evaluation processes and highlights the key factors that influence hiring decisions. The report provides essential insights into what recruiters prioritize when reviewing resumes, cover letters, and candidates during interviews.

1. Resume Evaluation

• Short Timeframe for Evaluation: Most recruiters (72%) spend less than two minutes reviewing a resume before deciding whether to proceed with an applicant.
• Primary Focus on Skills: 39% of recruiters first focus on skills when reviewing a resume, with technical (38%) and soft skills (26%) being the most important factors.
• Cover Letter Expectation: 89% of recruiters expect cover letters, and 87% consider them essential for the interview process.

2. First Impressions Matter

• Resume Review Time:
  • 3% spend less than 10 seconds
  • 19% review for 10-30 seconds
  • 33% take 1-2 minutes
• Red Flags in Resumes: 76% of recruiters reject applicants due to lies or exaggerations in resumes. Formatting issues (72%) and uncustomized resumes (72%) also lead to rejections.

3. Resume Preferences

• Data-Driven Resumes: 35% of recruiters will not consider resumes without measurable results, and 54% usually do not. Key areas recruiters focus on include:
  • Skills (39%)
  • Work experience (37%)
  • Professional summary (15%)
• Resume Length: 57% of recruiters prefer a two-page resume, while 37% favor a single page.

4. The Importance of Cover Letters

• Critical for Interviews: 89% of recruiters expect cover letters, with 87% considering them an essential factor in deciding whether to interview a candidate.
• Focus Areas in Cover Letters:
  • Work experience relevance (27%)
  • Personality and communication skills (24%)
  • Motivation for applying (9%)
• Cover Letter Length: 49% prefer half-page cover letters, while 26% favor a full page.

5. Interview Preferences

• Evaluating Candidates: Recruiters value both technical and soft skills, with 38% focusing on technical skills, and 26% on soft skills.
• Use of Assessments: 63% of recruiters use skill-based (51%), personality (50%), and cognitive ability tests (36%) to assess candidates during interviews.

6. Addressing Employment Gaps

• Employment Gaps as a Red Flag: 95% of recruiters view employment gaps negatively. Candidates are encouraged to address gaps in their cover letter (57%), resume (44%), or interview (49%).

Zety’s Recruiting Preferences Report offers valuable insights that job seekers can leverage to improve their applications. By emphasizing the right skills, measurable achievements, and crafting personalized cover letters, candidates can increase their chances of standing out in a competitive job market. Understanding what recruiters prioritize—technical skills, soft skills, and quantifiable results—is key to making a strong impression during the hiring process.