While AI can improve your chances of writing a successful resume, it’s still essential to carefully tailor your resume based on the latest trends.
Our in-depth research, including insights from 25,000 job seekers, explores key resume statistics you need to know this year — including the most popular formats in 2024, what matters to hiring managers and recruiters, and the resume factors that drive hiring decisions.
The most popular sections of a resume
The statistics below cover the most popular sections to include on a resume, as well as the top skills listed by job seekers.
1. After job experience, the most popular sections to include are a career objective and skills
We found out that 2 out of 3 job seekers include a career objective and a skills section on their resumes. These are the most popular resume sections to include in 2024, behind job experience, which is included by 76% of job seekers.
These sections have been consistently popular because together they provide a fast snapshot of your experience, abilities, and potential contribution to a recruiter or hiring manager. The skills section is particularly important because it can serve as an extra block of relevant keywords, which can help a resume get flagged for closer review by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
2. Job seekers highlight soft skills that emphasize productivity, customer relations, and collaboration
Among job seekers, the top soft skills listed are:
- Time management
- Customer service
- Critical thinking
- Teamwork
These are popular soft skills to include on a resume because they are essential in practically all industries.
Hiring managers want to see that applicants understand the importance of having time management skills for prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines.
For example, listing that you have great customer service skills shows that you understand the importance of customer loyalty while mentioning your critical thinking skills says that you’re a problem solver who makes informed decisions.
Saying that you have teamwork skills signals that you’re collaborative and will contribute to a productive workplace.
3. Job seekers are increasingly listing skills to fit the hybrid work environment
According to Gallup, about four in ten employees are now working from home at least part of the week. With the rise of remote work, job candidates have been increasing their emphasis on skills suited to the hybrid work environment. Since 2020, the number of job seekers listing time management and project management skills has tripled.
The reasons for the shift are due to the nature of hybrid work, which requires employees to manage their own time and projects more independently than in a traditional office. Forbes reports that hybrid work models have also expanded the talent pool for businesses, leading to a shift in recruitment strategies and a stronger emphasis on these skills during talent acquisition.
4. Key skills: marketing managers
The top skills listed by marketing managers are:
- Corporate communications (32%)
- Project management (32%)
- Market analysis (31%)
- Campaign management (31%)
- Product development (30%)
Other skills listed frequently include staff management, market analysis, customer relationship management, and vendor relations, which are included in slightly under 30% of resumes in this job category. Overall, these skills reflect the multifaceted nature of marketing management, which requires a blend of strategic thinking and leadership abilities.
5. Key skills: sales managers
For sales managers, the top skills listed among job hunters are:
- Sales expertise (41%)
- Communication (39%)
- Time management (35%)
- Goals & performance (28%)
- Negotiation (22%)
These are all crucial skills for these professionals, as they must be able to effectively communicate with their team and be masters of their own schedules to focus on driving sales growth.
6. Key skills: cashiers
For cashiers, the top skills listed by job hunters are:
- Communication (25%)
- Time management (25%)
- Cleaning & sanitizing (23%)
- Money handling / Register skills (23%)
- Stocking & Inventory (21%)
These skills are essential for cashiers as they need to be comfortable interacting with customers, handling cash transactions, and addressing inventory, in addition to effectively managing their time.
7. Key skills: software developers/engineers
Among software developer resumes found from our analysis, the top skills listed are:
- Python (50%)
- JavaScript (48%)
- Java (41%)
- Git (34%)
- C (33%)
Python has doubled in popularity on resumes since 2020 among job seekers, reflecting the surging demand for this programming language. Technology can evolve rapidly in this fast-growing industry, so it’s little surprise that software professionals must keep their skills current. JavaScript has also increased significantly among applicants since 2020, rising from 33% to 48% of resumes, consistent with the growing demand for web development skills.
8. Key skills: registered nurses
The top skills listed on resumes for nurses are:
- Patient care (39%)
- Medicine administration (29%)
- Patient assessments (25%)
- Patient education (18%)
- Patient monitoring (16%)
Since 2020, nursing job applicants have increased the kinds of specialized clinical skills they include on their resumes, such as blood sample management and IV drug administration. This trend reflects the fact that several healthcare occupations and specialties are currently facing high demand and a shortage of skilled workers.
9. Listing multiple spoken languages is increasingly popular
Including 2+ languages on resumes was a popular trend in 2023, appearing on 34% of resumes sampled.
The top five foreign languages listed on resumes are:
- Spanish (5.7%)
- French (4.1%)
- Arabic (3.6%)
- Hindi (2.9%)
- German (2.8%)
10. Not including professional skills is a big mistake
Zippia survey data highlights that neglecting to include a list of professional skills on your resume can have a similar negative impact to being unemployed for a year.
Resume Genius’s skills survey also found that 48% of hiring managers prefer candidates who list a blend of both technical and soft skills, highlighting the growing recognition and value of a well-rounded skill set.
11. Hiring managers spend 67% of their screening time examining a resume’s work experience section
When it comes to reviewing resumes, hiring managers primarily focus on work history and career progression, dedicating 67% of their attention to this section.
Given the limited time hiring managers spend on each resume (under 30 seconds), you should present your work experience section in a clear and impactful way.
12. Hard skills are the focus for 88% of hiring managers when reading resumes
Among job seekers, the top hard skills listed are:
- Microsoft Office (Excel, Word)
- Project management
- Python
- C
Using concise resume bullet points and quantifiable resume achievements with numbers or percentages is an effective way to help employers easily notice your top qualifications.
Resume Genius’s in-demand skills survey revealed that an overwhelming 88% of full-time hiring managers prioritize a candidate’s technical expertise and job-specific skills.
While soft skills such as teamwork and communication are undoubtedly important, our data shows that successful resumes strike a balance between soft and hard skills.
Effective resume formatting
Let’s take a closer look at recruiters’ and hiring managers’ resume formatting preferences during the screening process:
13. Recruiters are 70% more likely to prioritize two-page resumes
In a large hiring simulation study, ResumeGo discovered that recruiters are 70% more likely to prefer an applicant who submits a two-page resume over a similar candidate with a one-page resume.
This preference also grew stronger when hiring for more senior positions, as recruiters reported favoring two-page resumes for experienced professionals. Peter Yang, CEO of ResumeGo states:
“In many cases, strong candidates, who do have more experience, write two-page resumes — so hiring managers may have developed a subconscious link between strong candidates and longer resumes.”
This surprising insight challenges the belief that a single-page resume is always the best choice. That said, Yang notes that one-page resumes are still suitable for less experienced individuals:
“If your resume is naturally a single page or you’re an entry-level worker who doesn’t have a lot of relevant experience or skills yet, there’s no need to add for the sake of lengthening the resume. Rather, the research suggests, if you have more experience and need a longer resume, you don’t need to cut it down to a single page. You can paint a more complete picture of yourself.
14. 93% of all resumes include action-oriented phrases
Research by KickResume has found that impactful, purpose-driven language like action verbs and power words help job seekers highlight their ability to deliver results, and is favored on the vast majority of resumes (93%).
15. 63% of recruiters prefer tailored resumes
Based on survey findings, 63% of recruiters prefer resumes customized to an applicant’s target job.
Data suggests that recruiters prioritize targeted resumes that specifically address over half of the requirements included in a job posting. So, taking the time to customize your resume for each application could help you secure that coveted interview.
16. 1 in 4 hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds on a resume
Nearly a quarter (24%) of hiring managers spend under 30 seconds skimming a candidate’s resume.
In this brief window of opportunity, it’s crucial to make a positive impression on the person reading your resume.
17. Recruiters notice resumes with clear, simple layouts that use legible fonts and provide an overview at the top
Zippia’s survey data also shows that recruiters are more likely to notice resumes that:
- use a clear and uncomplicated layout
- begin with a concise resume profile
- use easily readable resume fonts
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) also scan resumes for keywords and readability, so if your resume design is visually appealing but lacks clarity, it may not advance further in the hiring process.
The best resume templates for 2024
One of the best ways to make your resume is by filling out one of our free resume templates. All our templates are designed by experts and free to download for Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
18. Arial is the most commonly used resume font
A beloved classic, Arial was voted the most popular resume font in a 2023 Resume Genius survey of hiring managers.
Job seekers also favor Arial, because of its clean and professional appearance, making it a solid choice to create a visually appealing resume.
19. Over 40% of recruiters are put off by excessive design
Interestingly, more than 40% of recruiters are turned off by resumes with overly flashy design elements (e.g., multiple colors or graphics, a distracting background, hard-to-read fonts).
Zippia’s survey findings revealed that recruiters emphasized the importance of simplicity and readability, suggesting that job seekers should focus on a clean, professional format that’s easy to navigate and stands out for all the right reasons.
Resume statistics for recent graduates
Whether you’re joining the workforce this year or planning your future as a current student, here are some key resume trends to help you stay informed:
20. Problem-solving skills are a high priority for 86% of employers hiring recent graduates
Based on the Job Outlook Report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), college students and recent graduates should be aware that over 60% of employers look for problem-solving and teamwork abilities on resumes, with 86% of them considering problem-solving skills their top priority.
NACE’s research also revealed that over 50% of employers place a high value on their candidates having:
- a strong work ethic
- analytical/quantitative skills
- written communication skills
- technical skills
21. Employers prefer candidates who list internship experience
According to NACE’s findings, when comparing equally qualified candidates, employers prefer those with internship experience.
Their study showed that internships are considered a highly influential factor in the hiring process, whether or not they are with the employer’s company or another relevant organization.
22. Only 37% of employers use GPA as a screening tool
Using GPA as a candidate screening tool has significantly declined in recent years.
Back in 2019, nearly 75% of respondents intended to screen candidates based on seeing the GPA on their resume. However, in this year’s survey, only 37% of respondents plan to do so.
Results from NACE suggest that employers are reevaluating their initial screening methods due to the growing number of qualified candidates and recognizing that relying solely on GPA may harm efforts to promote an inclusive workforce.
23. Employers want to see student organizations on your resume
Employers notice when recent graduates list that they were involved in student organizations related to either their career or academic major.
Overall, our data shows that the top activities that employers value are:
- career-related, on-campus work experience
- internships
- involvement in career or major-related student organizations
- volunteering experience
- research with a mentor
Resume and job hunting statistics
Here are some key statistics to help you understand the current resume and job search landscape:
24. Resumes with typos or bad grammar lead to immediate disqualification
Resumes with typos or bad grammar are immediately rejected by 77% of hiring managers.
Because employers expect resumes to demonstrate professionalism and attention to detail, careless errors create a bad first impression.
Based on a study by MIT Sloan, job seekers with over 99% accurate spelling on their resumes were hired almost three times more frequently. By contrast, candidates with less than 90% spelling accuracy had only a 3% chance of getting hired.
25. Over half (55%) of job seekers include a cover letter with their resume
A majority of recruiters (78%) express a preference for applicants to include a cover letter with their resumes. Also, 87% of hiring managers indicate that they always read cover letters.
Despite this, a considerable portion of job seekers (45%) still don’t bother to send still don’t bother to send a cover letter. It’s therefore worth considering these statistics and the potential benefits of including a cover letter when applying for a job.
26. 79% of hiring managers today are willing to hire candidates with career gaps
In 2023, 1 in 5 job seekers reported a career gap of one year or longer, an increase from 14% in 2020.
It should come as no surprise then that a LinkedIn survey found that 79% of hiring managers would still hire applicants with resume gaps, signaling a shift in attitudes toward breaks in work history.
This attitude shift is attributed to different factors, such as the rise of Generation Z in the workforce and the 2023 tech layoffs. The Great Resignation (a trend resulting from the pandemic) has also led to employers offering greater flexibility in hiring and the workplace as job seekers have become more selective.
Using social media to your advantage
Social media has become essential to recruitment and candidate evaluation, with the vast majority of recruiters and employers relying on these platforms in 2024.
27. 80% of recruiters incorporate social media into their strategy
In an Agency Central social recruiting survey, participants who were asked about their recruiting strategy considered social media to be:
- “Essential” (20%)
- “Fairly important”(60%)
- “Slightly important”(17.5%)
- “Not important”(2.5%)
Recruiters who participated in the survey reported being the most active on LinkedIn (100%), along with using Facebook (64%) and Twitter (3%) to seek out potential candidates.
28. 35% of employers reject resumes with unprofessional email addresses
Having an unprofessional email address can significantly hinder your chances of landing a job, as reported by 35% of employers.
While you might find humor in listing “slayqueen@gmail.com” as your email address, try instead to combine your first initial and last name to create an email address that presents you as a professional applicant.
29. 54% of employers reject candidates based on their social media profiles
Having an outstanding resume doesn’t guarantee success if your social media profiles don’t measure up.
A survey conducted by Zippia revealed that 54% of employers have rejected candidates based on their social media presence. This survey also discovered that any inappropriate content or behavior would potentially stop them from moving a job seeker forward in the hiring process.
Trends for resumes for 2024
Read on to learn about the latest statistics and resume trends of this year:
30. Resumes reflect a more competitive job market
In a competitive post-pandemic job market, hiring is expected to be modestly slower overall in 2024. Changes in applicant resumes reflect these trends in the job market, with a growing share of job seekers reporting higher levels of experience and education.
In 2023, 29% of job seekers listed 4 or more previous jobs on their resumes, more than any previous year and up from 19% in 2020. Among job seekers, 39% listed over 6 years of experience in 2023 (up from 30% in 2023) and 23% have 10+ years (up from 17% in 2020).
31. Job seekers are becoming increasingly well-educated
The job market has also grown increasingly competitive in terms of education, with more job seekers listing Bachelor’s degrees or higher than any year on record. In 2023, 52% of job seekers listed a Bachelor’s degree or higher on their resume, with 13% listing a Master’s or PhD.
32. Job seekers with AI-assisted resumes are 8% more likely to get hired
An MIT Sloan study recently found that AI-assisted resumes boost job seekers’ chances of getting hired by 8%.
The use of AI-generated applications in resume writing also led to job seekers receiving an average of 7.8% more job offers and 8.4% higher wages.
The authors’ findings suggest that AI writing tools (such as using ChatGPT to write your resume or making a ChatGPT-generated cover letter) can be a valuable tool for helping applicants improve the quality of their application.
33. Resume builders are becoming increasingly common for creating resumes from scratch
Resume builders are becoming a popular choice for job seekers to create a new resume.
According to our research, over 88% of job hunters have chosen to create a brand new resume rather than upload a pre-existing one, suggesting that job seekers find value in our resume-building software and prefer to start from a blank slate.
Our free-to-use resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.
34. Employers look for adaptability, curiosity, creativity, and flexibility in new hires
Employers responding to 2021 and 2022 surveys from Michigan State University report that when it comes to new hires, they’re looking for adaptability, creativity, and flexibility.
In another NACE survey from 2023, traditional, “one-and-done” degrees are no longer enough, and soft skills are becoming more critical as the modern workplace adapts to rapid changes in technology and the digital economy. As one employer from the study notes:
“You can learn from many experiences that, on the surface, may seem insignificant. [Applicants should] think thoughtfully about how they present their resume and not be afraid to expand upon these learnings.”
Methodology
In addition to the external research cited here, Resume Genius statistics are drawn from an internal audit of 25,000 resume builder users from the years 2020, 2022, and 2023, respectively. Users were randomly sampled to ensure representation across various demographics such as age, gender, and industry. The data was collected through user inputs and system logs, focusing on metrics like resume sections completed and professional skills listed.
This study, while insightful, is limited to users of our platform and may not represent all job seekers. All data was analyzed in compliance with ethical standards and privacy laws, with personal identifiers removed to maintain confidentiality.
Sources
Learn more about the latest trends for resumes and job hunting in 2024 using these resources.
- Agency Central, “Social Recruiting: Survey, Statistics and Infographics”
- Binmile, “The Top Factors Driving Python Language Ahead in 2024“
- Forbes, “Embrace Hybrid Work Or Lose Talent: The New Workforce Reality“
- Gallup, “The Four Essential Dynamics of Hybrid Work“
- KickResume, “2023 Resume Statistics”
- LinkedIn, “A Better Way to Address Career Gaps”
- MarketSplash, “250+ Resume Statistics: Length, Success Rates, And More”
- Michigan State University (MSU), “Recruiting Trends”
- MIT Sloan of Management, “Job Seekers With AI-boosted Resumes More Likely to be Hired”
- National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), “Employers Focus on Key Skills”
- National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), “The Ever-fluctuating Skill Set, The College-to-career Transition, and the T-student”
- Resume Genius, “15 Jobs Most Likely to Receive a Pay Raise in 2024“
- Resume Genius, “How to Use Social Media for Your Job Search“
- ResumeGo, “Settling the Debate: “One or Two Page Resumes”
- StandOutCV, “Resume Statistics”
- The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), “From Academia to the Workforce: Critical Growth Areas for Students Today”
- The Motley Fool, “5 Resume Stats All Job Seekers Should Know”
- Zety, “Resume Statistics 2022 (Analysis of 133,000 Documents)”
- Zippia, “40+ Resume Statistics for 2023”
About Resume Genius
Since 2009, Resume Genius has combined innovative technology with leading industry expertise to simplify the job hunt for people of all backgrounds and levels of experience.
Resume Genius’s easy-to-use resume builder and wide range of free career resources, including resume templates, cover letter samples, and resume writing guides, help job seekers find fulfilling work and reach their career goals. Resume Genius is led by a team of dedicated career advisors and HR experts and has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, CNBC, and Business Insider.
For media inquiries, please contact us.
