Hire a Resume Writer: Personal Biases That Can Affect Your Resume

At The Perfect Resume, I help job seekers remove the hidden “fast reject” triggers and unconscious bias risks that quietly stop resumes from being shortlisted. A professionally written resume makes it easy for recruiters to see your fit for the role within seconds.

Is it true recruiters only spend six seconds reading a resume?

Often, yes. In high-volume recruitment, the first scan of a resume is quick. Recruiters are not reading every word. They are scanning for role alignment, recent relevant experience, keywords, and overall clarity.

I have sat on the other side of the hiring table as a Senior Manager. I have personally reviewed tens of thousands of resumes, conducted hundreds of interviews, and hired across multiple industries. When a single role attracts hundreds of applicants, time is limited. The resumes that progress are the ones that make the match obvious immediately.

If a resume is long, cluttered, or poorly structured, it becomes difficult to assess quickly. That alone can be enough to trigger rejection before your experience is properly considered.

What recruiters look for during the first scan

During the initial review, recruiters usually focus on:

Role fit – Does your recent experience align with the advertised position?
Clear positioning – Is your target role obvious from the first page?
Evidence – Are there measurable achievements, not just task lists?
Keywords – Does your language match the job advertisement and ATS screening?
Readability – Is the resume easy to skim with clear headings and spacing?
Professional presentation – Is the file clean, consistent, and error-free?

Common reasons resumes are rejected in the first round

Some early rejections are logical. Others are influenced by human judgement and time pressure. The most common first-cut reasons include:

No tailored cover letter, or a cover letter that does not match the role or company.
Excessive length for the role level, making the resume difficult to scan.
Unclear career direction or a summary that does not match the job applied for.
Poor formatting with dense text, small fonts, or inconsistent spacing.
File issues such as corrupted attachments or unusual file formats.
Design-heavy templates that do not parse well in applicant tracking systems.
Confusing timelines, unexplained gaps, or inconsistent dates.
Generic applications that appear to be sent to every employer.
Buzzword-heavy language without evidence to support the claims.
Unprofessional contact details or unclear file naming.
Location uncertainty where relocation or availability is not clearly addressed.

Unconscious bias and resume screening

Unconscious bias can still influence recruitment decisions, even in modern hiring environments. While you cannot control every factor, you can control how your resume presents information during the first scan.

In Australia, best practice is to avoid including a photo, age, marital status, children, religion, or health information on your resume. These details add no value to your application and can introduce unnecessary bias. A strong resume keeps the focus on skills, outcomes, and role alignment.

How a professional resume writer helps

A professional resume writer understands how recruiters scan resumes and how ATS systems filter candidates. Working with a resume writer helps you:

Position yourself clearly for a specific role and seniority level.
Convert duties into achievement-based evidence with measurable results.
Create an ATS-friendly resume that still reads well for humans.
Improve keyword alignment, structure, and clarity.
Remove language and formatting issues that cause early rejection.

Get a free resume review

If you are applying for roles and not getting interviews, your resume may be holding you back without you realising it.

Email your resume to info@theperfectresume.com.au for a free resume review. You will receive practical, honest feedback on what is stopping your resume from being shortlisted.

To learn more about how we can help, visit The Perfect Resume.

Frequently asked questions

Do recruiters really reject resumes in six seconds?

In high-volume recruitment, the first review is often very quick. Recruiters scan for relevance, clarity, and role fit before deciding whether a resume is worth a closer read.

Should I include a photo or personal details on my resume?

In Australia, it is generally best practice not to include a photo, age, marital status, or family details. Keeping your resume focused on experience and outcomes reduces the risk of unconscious bias.

What is the fastest way to improve my chances of being shortlisted?

Target one role at a time, align your keywords to the job advertisement, use clear headings, and show measurable achievements. If you want direct feedback, email your resume to info@theperfectresume.com.au for a free review.