My clients have been talking about the 6 second rule. the 10 second rule, and the 15 second rule. My response based on over 20 years of recruiting is the BLINK rule.

When your resume is first viewed, the span of the initial glance is in a “blink of an eye”. The decision to continue viewing your resume is made in a heartbeat.Today resumes need to be quicker to read and scan with the human eye and resume systems. The first people to view your resume may be non-management level staff looking for a quick way to weed candidates out of consideration.You need to BOLDLY let the reader know that you are a fit for their position and that they need to continue perusing your resume.I continuously receive resumes for evaluation from experienced professionals. There are no shortcuts to properly presenting your experience and skills in the best possible light to cut through the clutter and allow all those strangers out there to view you as you wish to be viewed!Most of the resumes I receive lack focus, punch and power.It is sometimes impossible to tell what job they are seeking. Do not rely on a Cover Letter to do this!The resume does not pass the “Blink of an Eye” test. You do not get even 6 seconds when first viewed.The basics have not changed when I discuss this with high-end, experienced Executive Recruiters seeking to place professionals earning from $75K to $250K and more.They need to see what you did, when you did it and what were the results!Remember, these are not your friends and family. They are not reading anything into your resume. They are going to quickly make a decision on your fit.If your resume is compelling they will then check further and read the resume carefully, check out your LinkedIn Profile and see what else they can find out about you before setting a phone screen.