How bosses get your CV all wrong: Research says employers often draw wrong conclusions in key areas that affect chances of being interviewed
- Employers draw the wrong conclusions in key personality areas from a CV
- Recruiters told to examine 37 CVs, looking at 'big five' personality traits
- Overestimated applicants' extroversion and under rated conscientiousness
A study has found that recruiters make flawed judgements about a candidate's personality based on what they read in their application
You spend hours writing it up in the hope will get you a job.
But now it turns out that employers get totally the wrong idea about what you are like from your CV.
A study has found that recruiters make flawed judgements about a candidate's personality based on what they read in their application.
On five key personality areas, HR staff draw the wrong conclusions with a huge potential impact on your chances of getting an interview.
The researchers said that overall the findings showed that applicant's personality plays just a 'small role in how hireable they are perceived to be'.
They came up with a list of recommendations to get around the problem which includes putting education achievements before work achievements on your CV.
Applicants should also use include all leadership roles they have had within an organisation and make sure your hobbies are adventurous - as you appear more outgoing and employable.
The researchers asked 122 recruiters to evaluate CVs from 37 students; in each case they were asked to look at 77 aspects of the document covering what psychologists called the 'big five' personality traits.
These were openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism
The findings showed that the recruiters were bad judges of character.
In particular they tended to rate people higher than they were really in extroversion - a quality which meant they were more likely to be hired - and lower in conscientiousness than the reality.
The researchers asked 122 recruiters to evaluate CVs from 37 students (stock image)
Applicants with an attractive resume with double spacing were thought of more highly than those who used single spacing.
And those who said they did more volunteering were found to be be being better organised than those who didn't.
Lead author Gary Burns of Wright State University in the US said that job candidates should also avoid the temptation to make their CV stand out by using 'unusual fonts or formats'.
Another no-no was writing a personal statement on your CV, he added.
In the report, which appeared in the Journal of Business and Psychology, Mr Burns said their results have 'implications for both applicants and HR personnel evaluating resumes'.
Updating your CV is seen as a necessary evil by many employees, but studies have shown that employers spend on average just six seconds looking at them.
Recruiters look for qualifications and job progression through your career as they make their 'snap decision'.
However writing a good CV completely pointless as another study last year found that writing a good covering letter is far more effective than having a polished resume.
