Does Your CV Pass The 60-Second Rule?

What can I say in 60 seconds? Can I say anything that will make an impact? How then can an employer reject my CV in a minute or less? Help me understand this.”

Mike wrote this email (in part) to us, wondering how he had never been shortlisted for any position yet he knows he qualifies. He had hear about the 60-second rule in passing, but didn’t think much of it until he was never invited for an interview.

Truth is, very few tasks can be done in a minute or less. Listening to your favorite song, or even reading a page off of your favorite book will take more than a minute. 

Although many tasks require more than a minute, an employer on the other hand, takes 6- seconds to go through your CV. 

In a minute, they will have schemed through your CV and made a decision on what pile it goes to. 

Having spent so much time writing your CV or even seeking the help of professional CV writers to write your CV, this may seem unfair. 

However, if you want the employer to notice your CV, there are a few things you must consider, to ensure your CV passes the 60-second rule.

1. Review your professional journey in the profile summary

“I am a hardworking, dedicated, and goal-oriented professional with 3 years experience in…”

Does your CV include this line or something similar? This could be ruining your chances of getting called in for an interview.

When an employer sees this as the start of your profile summary, they’ll likely not read on as it just looks generic and impersonal.

What then, should your profile summary include?

Before you buy a book, you first read the review or synopsis. Before you watch a movie, you first watch the trailer. Think of your profile summary as your professional synopsis.

In this section, you want to highlight who you are as a professional, the experience you have, the skills you possess, and the competencies that qualify you for the role.

While this sounds like a lot, the rule is to keep it brief and impactful.

This section should be about six sentences long.”

Balance between giving relevant information and keeping it brief for a powerful career summary.

Here is an example of a customer service manager career profile. 

‘A dedicated customer service manager with over 2 years experience in the customer service industry. I have a proven track record in resolving and reducing customer complaints and meeting customer service level expectations. I am seeking a position in Customer Service where my extensive experience will be further developed and utilized in accomplishing the ultimate marketing goals of the Organisation.”

2. Let your strong points stand out

If the employer spends less than a minute scanning through your CV, you need to ensure they see your unique selling points.

What makes you the best candidate for this role? Is it your experience, or perhaps your achievements?

Instead of having a long paragraph, you can break this information down to short sentences, or use bullet points.

With bullet points, the employer can easily pick up your achievements as compared to them reading every line of the paragraph.

Ultimately, it’s difficult to include everything about you in a minute or less. However, since this is the standard, you should adjust to it to increase the chances of your CV being noticed.

Sample Profile Summary

‘A dedicated Accounting Professional with a Bachelors degree in accounting option from XYZ University. I have gained knowledge in preparing financial reports, accounting and financial management standards, preparing accurate and timely reports and general ledger operations. I am committed to developing my career path as an Accountant and to expand on my work experience.’

Are you unsure of what to include in your CV to ensure it passes the 60-second rule? Reach out to our professional CV writers here and get a FREE CV review.