Hidden Eye Tracker: How Recruiters Actually Read Resumes

How do recruiters really read your resume and what can you do about it?

TL;DR summary box

• Recruiters skim resumes fast – eye‑tracking experiments show they read in an F‑pattern and spend < 10 seconds on the page.
  
  
• Template and structure matter most – a clean layout and clear job titles help recruiters find key information quickly.
  
  
• Quantify achievements – eye‑tracking results and follow‑up experiments suggest that 80 % of bullet points should contain numbers or results.
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Table of contents

1. Why use a fake name?
   
   
2. What happened with 100 applications?
   
   
3. Key lessons about resumes
   
   
4. Applying the insights

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Why study recruiter eye movements?

Jerry Lee, co‑founder of Wonsulting, strapped hidden eye‑tracking equipment on two recruiters to see how they review resumes. The results made it clear that recruiters glance at resumes very quickly and follow predictable patterns. Understanding these patterns helps job seekers craft resumes that surface important information fast.

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F‑pattern reading: what it means

Eye‑tracking data shows that recruiters read in an F‑shaped pattern: they scan across the top line, then down the left margin and across part of the next line before moving further down. This means your most recent experiences, job titles and key accomplishments need to be at the top and left‑aligned so they’re seen first. The experiment also revealed that recruiters spend less than 10 seconds on each resume, so long paragraphs and dense blocks of text get skipped.

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Behind the scenes: running the experiment

To produce the eye‑tracking data, Jerry Lee partnered with a small group of recruiters and equipped them with hidden eye‑tracking hardware. The recruiters reviewed several anonymized resumes while the device recorded where their gaze lingered. By comparing heatmaps of where recruiters looked first and longest, Jerry could identify patterns in how professionals consume resumes. The experiment was intentionally simple: recruiters were given limited time and no prior knowledge of the candidates, replicating the high‑volume screening environment common in recruiting. This set‑up reinforced that first impressions and layout matter more than minor formatting tweaks.

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What the heatmaps revealed

The heatmaps showed bright clusters in the upper left portion of resumes—particularly around the candidate’s name, most recent job title and the first few bullet points. Areas on the right side of the page and lower down received far less attention. Dense paragraphs were largely ignored, while short, numbered bullets attracted more visual fixation. This reinforces the value of placing key achievements near the top, using white space to separate sections, and keeping each bullet to a single line.

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Does other research back this up?

Yes. The 2018 Ladders eye‑tracking study cited by HEPCO’s hiring advice found that recruiters spend on average 7.4 seconds skimming a resume. This aligns with the <10‑second figure from Jerry’s experiment and confirms that you should assume only a few seconds of attention. Other research on web usability also notes the F‑pattern as a common way readers scan text. The consistency across studies means these insights are reliable, not anecdotal.

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Resume checklist based on eye‑tracking

Use this checklist as you build or update your resume:

• Header at the top: Make your name and contact info clear and easy to find.
  
  
• Strong summary or headline: A short one‑sentence headline that signals your target role can help orient the reader.
  
  
• Most recent role first: Include the company, job title, dates and 2–4 bullet points with quantified achievements.
  
  
• Left‑aligned section titles: Use labels like Experience, Education and Skills so they’re easy to scan.
  
  
• Numbers in bullets: Aim for at least 80 % of bullets to include metrics or tangible outcomes.
  
  
• White space and margins: Avoid cramming; leave room between sections so the reader’s eye can move easily.
  
  

Following this checklist ensures your resume aligns with how recruiters naturally scan information, increasing the chances that your key achievements get noticed.

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Tips to optimize your resume

• Use a clean template: A simple, consistent layout lets recruiters quickly locate names, contact information and job titles. Wonsulting’s free ResumAI templates are designed with eye‑tracking insights in mind.
  
  
• Prioritize recent and relevant roles: Place your most recent and most relevant experiences near the top of your resume and align them on the left. Eye‑tracking data suggests recruiters focus here first.
  
  
• Write strong, numbered bullet points: Studies from the Kismma Nhuhts experiment (see example 2 below) show that 80 % of bullet points should include quantifiable results. Numbers make achievements stand out in a quick scan.
  
  
• Keep it concise: Recruiters don’t read long paragraphs; aim for short bullet points and clear section headings. Avoid text blocks and limit your resume to one page whenever possible.
  
  

Tools and resources

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• Try ResumAI – a free AI‑powered resume builder that uses these eye‑tracking insights to craft structured resumes quickly.
  
  
• Learn more about the eye‑tracking experiment in Jerry Lee’s LinkedIn post.
  
  
• For more tips on resume scanning patterns, see our job search strategy hub.
  
  

Ready to build a resume that stands out in under 10 seconds?

Try ResumAI now and book a consult with our team.