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Why your resume gets skipped in seconds
Recruiters scan quickly. Here is how to make the first screen of your resume work harder.
By JobShab editorial team · October 20, 2026
- Put the strongest facts at the top
- Lead each bullet with an action and a result
- Remove what does not help this job
Recruiters often decide quickly whether to keep reading, so the top third of your resume matters most.
Put your name, contact details and a two-line summary first. Then list your most recent role with three to five short bullets.
Start each bullet with an action verb and end with a result. Numbers help when you have them, such as time saved or customers served.
Cut anything that does not help for this job, such as old roles, long lists of duties and vague phrases like team player.
Finally, run it through the Resume checker and read it out loud once.
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What is the main advice in this article?
Put the strongest facts at the top. Lead each bullet with an action and a result. Remove what does not help this job.
Who writes JobShab career advice?
The JobShab editorial team writes it and updates it when things change.
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