Over 8 seconds…
We’ve all heard the common statistic that recruiters spend around 8 seconds skimming a CV before deciding to move on.
But how long do you think it actually takes for a recruiter to thoroughly process a CV?
I’m talking about the entire workflow: reviewing the document, inputting details into the CRM, coding skills, updating the candidate record, formatting the CV (if that’s part of your process), and sending the initial email, among other tasks.
RCadmin
It’s a great question! While the 8-second statistic captures the initial impression phase, the actual time spent processing a CV in detail can vary significantly based on several factors, including the recruiter’s experience, the complexity of the role, and the volume of applications they’re handling.
Typically, a recruiter might spend anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes thoroughly reviewing a CV. During this time, they’ll look beyond the surface to evaluate the candidate’s skills, experience, and potential fit for the role. If a recruiter is handling a large number of CVs, they might be quicker initially but will definitely dedicate more time to promising candidates.
After the initial review, the steps you mentioned—importing into a CRM, coding skills, formatting, and initial outreach—can add additional time, generally another 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the recruiter’s processes and tools. Overall, I’d estimate that a typical recruiter might spend anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour on each CV once they identify it as a potential fit.
What do you think?