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What recruiters actually read in the first seven seconds

Job search/Mar 22, 2026/4 min read
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A recruiter's first pass is fast and ruthless. Knowing the path their eyes take is half the battle.

§ 01Where the eyes go

Top third, most-recent role, the first line of each bullet. Everything else is skimmed at best on the first pass.

§ 02Put the signal in the path

Lead with outcomes the role asked for. If the match is on line three, it may as well be on page three.