Hiring managers skim in six seconds, then reread

Why the first glance matters Hiring managers spend only a handful of seconds on any new application. In that fleeting moment they are looking for a signal that the candidate aligns with the role. If the signal is missing, the document is set aside without a second look. The decision at this stage is pure triage: does the resume earn the right to be examined more closely, or does it join the pile of forgotten submissions? Because the initial pass is so brief, the layout and phrasing of the opening lines become the most important piece of the communication puzzle.