Every new year brings change, especially in the hiring process. To provide insights into what qualities hiring managers value in candidates this year, Resume Genius surveyed 625 managers across the United States to explore how each phase of the hiring process (such as applications, interviews, and skills assessments) impacts a hiring manager’s decision to hire or not hire a candidate.
Jill and I touch on some of the factors that set candidates apart this year and into 2025.
Hiring Managers Give Feedback
The survey and its results outline the latest criteria hiring managers use to determine the ideal job applicant — covering aspects such as the ideal resume length, interview red flags, and essential skills and qualifications they want to see in candidates this year.
Key takeaways from 625 surveyed hiring managers:
- 1 in 2 Gen Z managers find Gen Z the most challenging.
- AI on resumes (53%) is frowned upon the most, surpassing
- 65% consider hiring candidates with relevant skills even if they lack work experience.
- 82% think candidates lying during interviews is the biggest red flag.
- 43% are much more likely to hire a candidate who displays enthusiasm.
- 53% are deterred by AI-generated resumes, with 20% seeing them as a critical concern.
- 80% admit to ghosting candidates throughout the hiring process.
- 45% expect to hire millennials more than candidates of other generations.
- 45% find Gen Z the most challenging generation to work with
The 7 Second Resume Review Stat is a Lie
In contrast to the common belief that hiring managers spend just 7 seconds reviewing a resume, Resume Genius’ survey reveals that most respondents take their time to carefully evaluate each submission. In fact, only 22% of hiring managers reported spending less than a minute on the resumes they receive.
- 57% of hiring managers spend 1–3 minutes reviewing a resume.
- 21% of hiring managers spend 3+ minutes reviewing them.
Baby boomer hiring managers are the most thorough — 37% spend over 3 minutes on each resume (vs. 24% of Gen X, 19% of Millennials, and 16% of Gen Z). Gen Z (34%) and large company hiring managers (40%) are also the most likely groups to spend 1–2 minutes on a resume.
