RIP – The Resume? Executives Surveyed By Korn Ferry Futurestep Weigh In On Landing A Job

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- Networking Most Important, Resumes Least Important Part of Job Search Process -
- Majority Spend Less Than Five Minutes Reading Resumes –
- Vast Majority See ‘Job Hopping’ as a Detriment -

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A new executive survey conducted by the Futurestep division of Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) indicates that resumes may not be the power tool they once were for landing a job.

Editor’s Note: Survey Results at Bottom of Release

More than one-third (35 percent) of those surveyed said that resumes are less important to the job search process than they were 5 years ago.

In addition, 77 percent said networking was the most important part of the job search process, followed by interviewing (16 percent) and social/online presence (4 percent). Dead last? Resumes at 3 percent.

“Candidates who rise above the rest in this very competitive job environment, are those who understand that landing a job takes a balanced approach,” said Peter Keseric, Managing Consultant - Financial Services and Real Estate, Korn Ferry Futurestep. “Resumes are not going away– they’re still an important part of the overall job search process. However, nothing gets a candidate ahead like networking. And networking today is a contact sport.”

Although all (100 percent) respondents reported that they read candidates’ resumes during the hiring process, 51 percent of executives surveyed said they spend less than five minutes reading a candidate’s resume and 13 percent spend less than two minutes.

While a resume’s concision is critical, the survey findings also indicate that candidates should take great care in preparing and proofing their resumes. Ten percent of those surveyed said they would disregard a candidate if they found a typo or bad grammar in the candidate’s resume, even if the candidate had appropriate qualifications, and 46 percent said they would keep the candidate in the pool, but with reservations.

In terms of work history, direct experience is king. The most important information on a resume, according to the survey, is that the candidate has experience that is relevant to the position (83 percent). Only 15 percent cited the quality of the candidate’s previous employers, with 2 percent citing education (university they attended, GPA or types/levels of degrees). None of the respondents said the candidate’s job title mattered most.

Despite the surge of a gig economy, longevity still matters. Eighty-seven percent of respondents said short tenure or ‘job hopping’ matters to some or a great extent.

As for the cover letter, nearly half of respondents (49 percent) said it is less important than it was 5 years ago.

“Several elements go into the making of a successful job search,” said Keseric. “Candidates who know how to communicate and create compelling resumes will have an advantage. But at the end of the day, direct experience and fit helps puts them over the top.”

About the survey

Korn Ferry fielded the survey in April 2017 and it garnered 1,815 responses. Percentages are rounded to the nearest decimal. Totals may not equal 100 percent.

Survey Results

What is the most important part of the job search process?

   
Networking 77 percent
 
Interviewing 16 percent
 
Social/online presence 4 percent
 
Resumes 3 percent
 

Compared to 5 years ago, how important are resumes to the job search process?

   
Significantly less important 7 percent
 
Somewhat less important 28 percent
 
The same 34 percent
 
Somewhat more important 9 percent
 
Significantly more important 21 percent
 

How long do you spend with a resume prior to interviewing a candidate?

   
Less than 2 minutes 13 percent
 
Less than 5 minutes 38 percent
 
Less than 15 minutes 30 percent
 
More than 15 minutes 20 percent
 
I don’t look at resumes prior to interviews 0 percent
 

How far in advance of interviewing a candidate do you review their resume?

   
As they are walking into my office / dialing in for the interview 2 percent
 
During the interview 1 percent
 
A half-hour before the interview 18 percent
 
The day of the interview 15 percent
 
I review all resumes in advance and then decide
Who I want to interview 64 percent

How much of a candidate’s resume do you read?

 
All of it     58 percent
 
Just the executive summary 11 percent
 
I scan for key words I’m looking for 31 percent
 

What’s the most important element you look for on a resume?

 
The quality of the companies the person has worked for     15 percent
 
Their titles 0 percent
 
Specific experience in the areas I need to hire 83 percent
 
Education (school and types/levels of degrees) 2 percent
 

How much does short job tenure or “job hopping” matter when you are assessing whether a candidate is fit for a role?

 
It matters to a great extent     25 percent
 
It matters to some extent 62 percent
 
It doesn’t matter 13 percent
 

What would you do if you saw a typo or bad grammar on a resume?

   
Disregard the candidate even if his or her qualifications met the role 10 percent
 
Keep the candidate in the pool, with reservations 46 percent
 
Overlook the mistake if the person is qualified 44 percent
 

How many years of past experience should a candidate put on his/her resume? (assuming they have a long work history)

 
5 years or less     1 percent
 
10 years or less 16 percent
 
15 years or less 24 percent
 
20 years or less 18 percent
 
Depends on the quality of the work history 41 percent
 

How do you view resumes prior to interviewing candidates?

 
On my laptop     44 percent
 
A printed copy 54 percent
 
On my mobile phone 2 percent
 
I don’t review resumes prior to interviews 0 percent
 

Compared to 5 years ago, how important is attaching a cover letter to a resume?

 
Significantly less important     26 percent
 
Somewhat less important 23 percent
 
The same 21 percent
 
Somewhat more important 8 percent
 
Significantly more important 21 percent
 

How much more likely are you to review a “creative” resume (e.g. resume in a box, resume poster) vs. a traditional resume?

 
Much more likely     15 percent
 
Somewhat more likely 29 percent
 
Wouldn’t make a difference 39 percent
 
Somewhat less likely 13 percent
 
Much less likely 4 percent
 

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry is the preeminent global people and organizational advisory firm. We help leaders, organizations and societies succeed by releasing the full power and potential of people. Our nearly 7,000 colleagues deliver services through our Executive Search, Hay Group and Futurestep divisions. Visit kornferry.com for more information.

More information on Futurestep can be found at www.kornferry.com/futurestep

Korn Ferry
Tracy Kurschner, 1.612.309.3957
Tracy.Kurschner@KornFerry.com

Source: Korn Ferry

Released June 6, 2017