The “F Theory”

By Soozy G. Miller, CPRW, CDCC, CDP

According to a study by the Neilsen Norman Group several years back, most recruiters are reading resumes in an F-shaped pattern. This is exemplified in the article picture, shown below.

Like a radar scan image, the red areas in the images above represent the places of most attention, where the recruiters’ eyes go most often and spend the most time reviewing.

If you look at all three template examples, you will see that the red areas concentrate on the current or most recent experience. I have been telling my clients for years that the hiring team decides about resumes based on “what have you done for us (the field) lately?” This “F scan” proves that.

As I have mentioned many times before, most resumes are difficult to read, and it’s even more difficult to determine if someone is a good candidate. For instance, all marketing executives will put “social media” and “advertising” and “marketing strategy” in their skills section. “Marketing strategy” is too basic and general, like “good communicator.” Social media and advertising aren’t necessarily the appropriate skills for a marketing executive. The executive positions tend to be more about overall company strategy, positioning, and partnerships. And mission and culture.

So if all the skills on all resumes are the same (or similar enough), what differentiates people?

• Value-add

• Leadership impact

The F Theory is further proof of my point. If your skills are more or less the same as other executives in the same field, and they are, value-add and leadership impact will be your differentiator. The ways in which your hard / technical and unique soft skills made the company better is the key to your success with your resume (and LinkedIn profile) and your interviews.

All Vice Presidents of Marketing probably know how to create and implement social media strategies. But not all can demonstrate results. What did you do with your skills that makes you different? How did you use your skills, that everyone else has, to impact the company? That’s your differentiator. That’s what gets you hired.

According to these F Theory scans, you should concentrate on putting that impact and value-add information in your current and/or most recent position.

Go “F” your resume.

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Better job. More pay. More control.

For a free resume review, please contact us at Control Your Career!