106+ Resume Statistics For 2024 (Data, Facts & Trends)

To stand out from the crowd, a job applicant must have a winning Resume.

It is crucial to differentiate yourself in a market when employers read resumes using applicant tracking systems rather than hiring managers.

It’s essential to remain current with resume statistics. It would also be helpful for candidates to know what should be the ideal resume, how long their resumes should be, what skills recruiters prefer, and much more.

I’ve gathered a great deal of information on resume statistics to aid you in understanding the current trends in resumes.

Let’s have a look at the surprising compilation of the latest resume statistics.

Resume Statistics: Top Picks (2024)

1. The ideal resume length is 1-2 pages. 65% of resumes are 2 pages long, while 24% are 1 page. Resumes longer than 2 pages are much less likely to be read.
2. 85% of resumes are created in Word, and 10% in PDF format. PDF is preferred by large companies as it retains formatting.
3. 90% of resumes include an email address and phone number. 75% list a home address. However, over 50% of hiring managers prefer resumes without home addresses.
4. Around 50% of resumes have an objective statement, but only 20% of hiring managers find it useful. They prefer summaries.
5.  70% of candidates include references on resumes, but 90% of employers will not contact references until interviews.
6. On average, recruiters spend 7 seconds reviewing an individual resume. Hiring managers spend even less time.
7.  Only 5-10% of resumes submitted result in an interview on average, and under 2% of total resumes submitted for a job lead to a job offer.

Resume Statistics: General Stats

8. According to Zety.com data, the typical resume is 490 words long.
9. A one-page resume generally contains 380 words per page.
10. According to data, companies nowadays prefer two-page resumes.
11. Zety.com reports that for managerial positions, employers are 2.9 times more likely to choose a candidate with a two-page resume, and for entry-level positions, they are 1.4 times more likely.
12. Furthermore, according to 77% of companies, experienced professionals shouldn’t use a one-page resume.
13. According to 61% of recruiters, soft skills are as important on a resume to hard talents. (CareerBuilder)
14. Based on a CareerBuilder report, 24% of hiring managers give resumes less than 30 seconds of their time.
15. About 67% of hiring managers look for work experience on resumes.
16. According to Forbes, an ATS (applicant tracking system) potentially reject up to three-fourths of competent applicants because the machine was unable to understand their resumes.
17. More than three-quarters of companies have examined lies on candidates’ resumes.
18. An ATS has rejected more than 75% of competent candidates due to illegible resumes.
19. According to resume data, 98% of Fortune 5500 firms choose or reject candidates using ATS.
20. As per the research, job seekers typically write one CV for each job hunt.
21. Only 10% of job applicants receive interview invitations on average, and of those, 20% receive job offers.
22. 2 to 3.4% of job applications are successful. This implies that job seekers must submit an average of 30 to 50 resumes.
23. This implies that job seekers must submit an average of 30 to 50 resumes.
24. More than 63% of employers prefer to get resumes that are tailored to the role.
25. Approximately 89% of resumes are rejected due to a photo on the Resume.
26. The most common “hard” skills listed in resumes include Microsoft Office, project management, Microsoft Excel, and Python.
27. According to their research, 19% of the time, when an applicant’s resume contains a photo, potential employers will actually view the image.
28. According to statistics on job applications, 63% of recruiters prefer to get resumes that are tailored to the vacant position.
29. Only 14% of recruiters look through resumes for more than a minute.

Resume Formatting Statistics

Recruiters are more likely to read lesser resumes in a given period of time. It has been observed that a one-page resume can serve as a criterion. Here are certain formatting-related details you should be aware of.

30. A section for personal information was found in the resumes of 99.85% of applicants.
31. Only 89.81% of resumes have a skills section, according to research from 2022.
32. The important skills portion should be between 15 and 20 words in length.

However, candidates prefer to add other areas like 

• Certificates: 27%
• Interests: 19%
• Languages: 31%
• Additional activities: 21%

33. The typical length of a resume is 489 words.
34. The median length of a resume is 369 words on average.
35. According to current statistics, the average job applicant is more likely to keep their resume to one page.
36. However, the majority of businesses choose 2-page resumes since they are 2.8 times more likely to choose a job seeker for managerial jobs who submits a 2-page resume.
37. According to a survey from 2022, 6 to 7 seconds were typically spent reading a resume.
38. Most effective resume-writing techniques begin sentences with action verbs. (140%)

According to the resume statistics for 2024 mentioned above, it’s crucial to stand out. The easiest method to do this is by using action words in your resume. 

To boost your chances of progressing to the next stage of the employment process, you can utilize them to highlight your abilities and experience.

Resume Section Statistics

39. The majority of resumes are examined based on different categories, including Work experience, skills, and personal experience.

The majority of the users whose resumes were analyzed included the following 5 main sections:

Personal Information	9.85% of resumes
Work Experience	98.33% of resumes
Education	7.25% of resumes
Skills	89.81% of resumes
Summary or Objective	88.75% of resumes

40. 66% of job searchers include at least one additional resume section.

Below are some popular additional resume sections that candidates include in their resumes:

(Source: Zety.com)

Any Additional Section	66%
Languages	31%
Certificates	27%
Additional Activities	21%
Interest	19%
Software	18%
References	16%
Courses	11%
Licenses	5.5%
Publications	5.3%
Conferences	4.7%
Legal Clause	4.7%

41. Action verbs at the beginning of sentences are one of the most effective resume-writing strategies.
42. While resumes typically list only 13 talents, job opportunity descriptions often contain 21.8.

Let’s have a look at the best resume approaches for getting an interview call.

(Source: Zippa.com)

Approach	Increased Likelihood Of Getting An Interview
Action verbs in the starting sentences	140%
Sending resumes between 6-10 am	89%
Applying within 1 to 4 days of posting	65%
Mentioning a key skills section	59%
Not using personal pronouns	55%
Using leadership-oriented words	51%
Not mentioning ‘team Player’ phrases	51%
Indicating results with numbers	40%
Applying keywords and industry jargon	29%

43. According to studies, hiring managers are more receptive to resumes that don’t include ethnic information.
44. 31% of respondents say they are able to speak extra languages. Spanish is the most widely spoken language (5.7%).

Following are the top 10 most common foreign languages listed in resumes.

(Source: Zety.com)

Spanish	5.7%
French	4.1%
Arabic	3.6%
Hindi	2.9%
German	2.8%
Russian	1.5%
Italian	1.2%
Portuguese	1%
Mandarin	0.9%
Tamil	0.8%

Common Skills Used In Resume

45. Over 40% of recruiters claimed that candidates lacked the soft skills and competencies required for the position.
46. According to resume statistics for 2022, including soft skills on your resume is one of the most important trends that applicants need to be aware of.
47. The following are the most often listed soft skills on resumes. (Zety)

Communication	11%
Leadership	9%
Time Management	8%
Problem-Solving	7%
Customer Service	5%
Teamwork	55
Adaptability	4.3%
Organization	2%
Creativity	1.7%
Conflict Resolution	1.6%

48. The following are the most typical hard skills to list on a resume. (Zety)

Microsoft Office	12%
Project Management	6%
Microsoft Excel	6%
Python	3.8%
Salesforce	3.6%
Java	3%
SQL	2.9%
Microsoft Word	2.7%
JavaScript	2.4%
Public Speaking	1.9%

49. If there are no or fewer soft skills makes the hiring process much more challenging, according to the HR survey.
50. Additionally, the research from various sources indicates that either there is a skills gap or job seekers struggle to effectively explain their skills.
51. In addition to work experience, recruiters may also be searching for:

Cultural Fit	60%
Cover letters	26%
The prestige of college	21%
Grade point average	19%

52. The majority of hiring managers (61%) believe that a customized CV can increase job prospects.

Further statistics about resumes suggest that other strategies include: 

• attaching a cover letter to the resume (49%),
• addressing the letter to the hiring manager or recruiter by name (26%),
• linking to the applicant’s online portfolio, blog, or website (21%).

53. However, the majority of candidates (90%) submit applications with generic resumes.
54. Recruiters report that communication (31%) and problem-solving (37%), as well as the capacity to handle complexity (32%) are the top soft skills that job prospects lack. (SHRM)
55. The following qualities are shared by resumes that are most likely to catch recruiters’ attention, according to an eye-tracking study. 

• a resume that is concise and organized logically.
• a summary at the top. 
• understandable, approachable fonts.

56. The optimum number of talents for your resume is 13. However, 21.8 is the average on the majority of resumes.

Resume Rejection Statistics

57. A photo on a resume causes 88% of them to be rejected.
58. Only 2% to 3% of received resumes are given interviews.
59. Only 35% of applicants for jobs are qualified.
60. More than 10% of applicants have submitted 50 or more resumes without receiving a response.
61. According to 40% of recruiters, applicants lack the soft skills required for the position.
62. Contrarily, 36% of resumes are disregarded because they are overly general, and 32% heavily borrow words from the job description.
63. Additionally, candidates are more likely to be rejected if their CV or cover letter has errors (58%), omits precise employment dates (27%), or is printed on fancy paper (19%).
64. The majority of businesses analyze resumes using ATS.
65. Over 80% of resumes don’t make it past the first screening, and only 1 in 10 get to a hiring manager
66. 36% of resumes are rejected for being too generic, 35% for not listing skills, 32% for copying excessive wording from the job description, 27% that don’t include exact dates of employment, and 13% that include a photo.
67. 25% of black candidates received callbacks when they whitened their resumes compared to 10% who left ethnic details
68. Unprofessional applications (84%), failure to include a thank you note (57%), and no customization resume (54%) are the main justifications for rejecting a resume. (Careerbuilder)
69. The following are the most significant resume red flags for hiring managers. (Careerbuilder)

Typos And Bad Grammar	77%
Unprofessional email address	35%
Lack of quantifiable results	34%

Cover Letter Statistics

According to the sources, cover letters are still important in 2023, with 83% of hiring managers frequently or always reading them.

70. Cover letters are submitted by around 47% of job applicants. (Jobvite)
71. According to CV statistics, applicants with poor email addresses would have 76% of their CVs disregarded.
72. According to more than one-fourth (26%) of recruiters, they read cover letters and consider them crucial when choosing somebody to hire. (Jobvite)
73. Writing in the third person or having several grammatical or spelling errors account for 43% of CVs being rejected.
74. According to up to 38% of HRs, a cover letter increases their inclination to read an application carefully.
75. According to cover letter statistics, applicants are more likely to be skipped over if the cover letter fails to mention a list of talents. (35%)
76. 70% of companies choose cover letters that are a half-page or less in length. (Saddleback)
77. A lack of a cover letter, according to almost half (45%) of recruiters, could result in your job application being rejected. (CareerBuilder)
78. According to Capterra’s research, about 58% of applicants write custom cover letters for each job application, while 42% reuse the same generic cover letter.

Resume And Social Media Statistics

Social media profiles are an essential component of the job application process, especially if the employer sends resumes to a recruiter or hiring manager after processing them through an applicant tracking system (ATS).

As a result, since so many recruiters utilize social media to uncover new talent, social media profiles should be current and complete.

79. Many hiring managers check the social media profiles of their applications on social media websites.
80. Up to 85% of jobs are filled via networking these days. (LinkedIn)
81. According to candidate data on LinkedIn, 94% of them claim that being contacted by a potential manager can help them accept a job offer more quickly.
82. Many hiring managers check the social media profiles of their applications on social media websites.
83. Nowadays, networking is used to fill up to 85% of jobs. (LinkedIn)
84. According to candidate data on LinkedIn, 94% of them claim that being contacted by a potential manager can help them accept a job offer more quickly.
85. LinkedIn is frequently used by employers to find job candidates.
86. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are very popular.
87. Majorly often used platforms are Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.

Platform	Recruiter’s Preference (%)
LinkedIn Learning	99.99%
Facebook	75%
Twitter	63%
Instagram	53%

88. 89% of candidates claim they would accept a job offer more quickly if they were contacted by a recruiter.
89. Today, about 90% of job seekers look for fresh opportunities using their mobile phones.
90. More than 1 billion job searches are being made each month on mobile devices.

What Do The Candidates Feel When Applying For A Job?

91. According to a 2021 survey by Joblist, 91% of job seekers feel some level of frustration during the job search process. The top frustrations were lack of response from employers (69%), unclear guidelines in job ads (62%), and convoluted application processes (60%).
92. A 2022 MRINetwork study found that 88% of candidates feel anxious while awaiting responses after job interviews. 76% said the job search negatively impacts their mental health.
93. According to research by LaSalle Network, 82% of job seekers report feeling nervous or anxious when applying for a new role. 66% feel discouraged when they don’t hear back from employers.
94. According to 69% of applicants, employers need to speed up their response times. (Careerarc)
95. According to 63% of candidates, the majority of employers do not communicate effectively. (Talent board)
96. During the interview process, the top three criteria used by job seekers to measure long-term work potential are salary (44%), obvious career paths (39%), and track record of internal promotion (37%) (Glassdoor).

Interview Statistics

97. A corporate position receives 250 applications on average, according to data from Glassdoor.
98. According to Jobvite, 88% of working Americans claimed that their most recent job interview went well.
99. During the pandemic, 63% of the companies conducted online interviews, compared to just 12% before the outbreak.
100. More than 40% of the recruiters admitted that if an applicant doesn’t have an internet presence, they might not even interview them.
101. Across all industries, the hiring process takes three to four weeks on average.
102. In-person meetings (17%), phone conversations (25%), and emails (58%) were the three most popular ways to contact recruiters in 2020. (Jobvite)
103. HireVue’s 2022 survey found that 61% of candidates believe virtual interviews are more convenient than in-person. However, 49% feel it’s harder to establish rapport.
104. TopResume’s 2022 statistics show that, on average, candidates spend 4 weeks preparing for an upcoming job interview. About 53% do at least 1 mock interview.
105. In the course of the employment process, up to 87% of employers check references. (SHRM)
106. The following are the main criteria that interviewers look at when determining a candidate’s prospects for long-term employment. (Glassdoor)

Information Regarding Pay	44%
Clear growth tracks	39%
Track record of promoting from within	37%

Related Read:

• Best Online Jobs For College Students
• Best Part Time Jobs For College Students

Conclusion: Resume Statistics (2024)

The statistics on resumes provided here provide a vision of the nature and structure of the future job market.

A well-structured resume helps potential employers focus on appealing abilities and experiences. This will make it easier for employers to hire the most qualified and best applicants. In addition, resumes describe the candidate’s proposed contributions to the business.

In order to be chosen for the job, one must make sure that their Resume is well-structured and up-to-date.

After all, a resume is the first thing a potential employer will see about you during the hiring process.

I hope that the above statistics helped you understand the latest and trending resume requirements when applying for a new job.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comment section below.