Career Growth · 10/25/2026 · 1 min read

What Recruiters Notice in the First 30 Seconds

A recruiter's first scan of your CV and LinkedIn profile decides whether you get a closer look. Here is what they look for.

Recruiters often review dozens of profiles for a single role. The first pass is quick, and it focuses on a few signals: your current title, the companies you have worked for, and whether your experience clearly matches the role.

Lead with results, not duties. "Managed recruitment" says little; "hired 40 engineers in six months" tells a story. Numbers, scope, and outcomes make your experience easy to understand at a glance.

Keep the format clean. A clear structure, consistent dates, and a short summary at the top help both people and applicant tracking systems read your CV correctly.

Your LinkedIn profile should tell the same story. A focused headline, a professional photo, and an About section written for the roles you want make it far more likely that the right opportunities find you.

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