How to Spot a Great Resume in Under 30 Seconds

When you’re faced with a stack of resumes, time is rarely on your side—but making the right hiring decision is critical. With just seconds to spare for each review, the ability to quickly distinguish high-quality resumes from the rest is an essential skill for any hiring manager. Making the wrong choice on who to bring in for first round interviews can take away valuable time and expense from the candidates that are truly well suited for the role. By knowing exactly what to look for—such as relevant experience, clear formatting, and signs of career growth—you can confidently identify candidates worth a closer look without wasting valuable time.

Below, we outline the key elements to look for when reviewing resumes so you can strategically pinpoint the candidates worth a deeper look.

1. Fully Understand the Job Description Before Reviewing Resumes

Before you scan even one resume, make sure you have a clear and thorough understanding of the job description and the role’s must-haves versus nice-to-haves. This includes essential hard skills, minimum education requirements, industry experience, and any certifications necessary for success. Understanding the job scope will allow you to quickly align resumes with core role expectations and eliminate unqualified candidates upfront. This allows you to locate the best talent quickly, and remove the applicants that don’t align with the role so not to waste their time or your own.

2. Review Resume Formatting and Organization

A clean, well-formatted resume reflects attention to detail and professionalism. Look for consistent fonts, proper headings, bullet points, logical sequencing, and appropriate spacing. A cluttered, difficult-to-read resume may indicate poor communication skills or lack of effort—both important considerations for many roles. Words and paragraphs tossed together can indicate a candidate is just passively searching for roles, rather than actively taking the time and care to submit the best reflection of themselves.

3. Ensure the Resume Aligns with the Industry

Different industries expect different formats, tones, and content in a resume. A creative role might benefit from a more visual layout, while finance or legal positions typically favor clean, conservative formatting. Check whether the resume matches the norms and expectations of your industry. A candidate who understands these nuances is more likely to fit into your team and company culture.

4. Scan for Relevant Keywords

Resumes that reflect the job description often contain specific keywords tied to the role. These could include job titles, tools, technologies, or processes related to the position. Hard skills that are required for specific positions will be reflected in candidate experience, otherwise the resume may not be the right fit. For example, if you’re hiring a mortgage underwriter, look for keywords like “loan origination,” “compliance,” or “risk assessment.” Scanning for these terms helps you identify resumes that are tailored to the role and likely to belong to qualified applicants.

5. Check for Critical Hard Skills and Certifications

A strong resume clearly displays hard skills relevant to the position, as these can be considered ‘make or break’ non-negotiables when looking to move candidates into the interview stage. Look for these in either the summary or skills section, as well as within each job description. Additionally, certifications or industry-specific licenses indicate that the candidate meets certain professional standards. If your role requires specialized expertise, these credentials can act as a quick screening tool to separate top resumes from the rest.

6. Evaluate Career Progression

One of the most telling indicators of a candidate’s potential is their career trajectory. Has the candidate moved steadily upward, taken on increasing responsibility, or transitioned into more complex roles over time? Rapid promotions or long tenures in progressively senior roles show reliability, ambition, and long-term value. A resume that reflects clear career growth should always catch your attention.

7. Verify Educational Background

While education isn’t everything, it can help you gauge whether a candidate meets foundational qualifications for the role. Quickly scan for relevant degrees or coursework that align with the job’s requirements. If the role mandates a degree or industry-specific training, a resume should clearly state this, ideally near the top or in a dedicated education section.

8. Stay Alert to Unconscious Bias

It is important to recruit top talent while leveraging fair and inclusive hiring practices. When reviewing resumes quickly, it’s easy to unconsciously form opinions based on factors like name, age, or graduation year. Be mindful of this, and instead focus on relevant experience, skills, and achievements. Building diverse teams starts with unbiased resume reviews.

9. Look for Red Flags: Gaps, Job Hopping, and Inconsistencies

Quickly scanning a resume’s timeline can reveal potential issues. Large unexplained employment gaps, frequent job changes, or inconsistencies in job titles and dates can be red flags. That said, these should be viewed in context—some industries naturally experience high turnover, and candidates may have valid reasons for career breaks. Still, it’s worth flagging these items at least for deeper discussion during an interview.

Partner With Experts to Find Top Talent

The ability to quickly assess a resume is a crucial skill for any hiring manager—but you don’t have to do it alone. At Professional Alternatives, we specialize in identifying high-performing professionals and matching them to roles where they thrive. Whether you’re filling a new position or restructuring your team, our expert recruiters can streamline your hiring process and connect you with vetted candidates who align with your goals.

Ready to find your next standout hire? Connect with one of our experienced recruiters today and let Professional Alternatives help you build your best team yet. Start hiring today!