An NBC poll reveals more than 28% of Americans are searching for new jobs. And the question on every job seeker’s mind is, “What are recruiters looking for?” as applicants try to differentiate themselves and stand out from the pack. The main way to find the answer is from hiring managers. A recent study of recruiters reveals what job seekers must know to make a good impression and meet their expectations.
Must-Knows For Job Seekers About The Interview Process
If you’re a job seeker, it’s important to know what recruiters are looking for and that a recent trend in some hiring practices puts candidates through “special tests” without them knowing to see how they react. In the secret water test, recruiters place a jug of water and a cup to see if the applicant will drink during the interview. Don’t drink the water.
Another recruiter tests job seekers on responsibility, asking them to go back out the front door and come in the back through the kitchen. The recruiter places a broom in front of the kitchen door to see if applicants will step over the broom or pick it up and put it in a corner. Put the broom in the corner where it belongs to show you are a responsible person.
Other hiring employers like Snapchat’s CEO, Evan Spiegel, purposely terrifies new hires by setting them up to fail on their first day on the job. He asks them to pull together a presentation with new ideas in minutes–an impossible task and inevitable failure to see how they handle it. Don’t sweat it. You can’t win, but you also can’t fail but be aware of how you emotionally handle it. That’s what they’re looking for.
In light of these antics, experts are calling for an overhaul of the broken interview process lacking objectivity and structure. Some interviews mimic college fraternity hazing practices and are biased, inconsistent and inefficient, according to some leaders.
Nine Must-Haves For Job Seekers
Don’t spend too much of your time worrying about the “secret tests.” Your best bet is to avoid the most common mistakes job seekers make and to follow a more scientific approach with data that shows what most recruiters expect on your resume.
To help you keep up with recruiter expectations, Resume Genius released its 2025 Resume Statistics Report, featuring the popular trends in resume writing and job recruitment. It shows that 2025 brings about changes in the job industry that also affect the list of things recruiters are looking for in their candidates.
Resume Genius surveyed 1,000 hiring managers in the U.S. on their recruitment preferences, combining the findings with data from an internal audit of previously run surveys of 500,000 resume builder users from the years 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 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. All data was analyzed in compliance with ethical standards and privacy laws, with personal identifiers removed to maintain confidentiality. After distilling the data, the researchers pinpointed nine “must-haves” that job seekers need to show on their resumes:
1. Length of resume. 70% of hiring managers prioritize two-page resumes, and 54% of recruiters expect resumes to be two pages long.
2. Typos and grammar. 77% of hiring managers will immediately reject resumes with typos or bad grammar.
3. Spelling. Job seekers with over 99% accurate spelling on their resumes are three times more likely to be hired.
4. Cover letter. 78% of hiring managers prefer seeing job applications with both the resume and the cover letter.
5. List of problem-solving skills. 89% of hiring managers look for problem-solving skills in their applicant’s resumes.
6. Hard skills. 88% of hiring managers focus on hard skills in resumes.
7. Internship experiences. Employers prefer candidates who list internship experiences in their resumes.
8. Teamwork skills. 80% of hiring managers are also looking for teamwork skills.
9. Written communication skills. 73% want written communication skills.
“With hybrid work now the norm in 2025, hiring managers are paying closer attention to whether candidates can really thrive in flexible work setups,” says Geoffrey Scott, senior hiring manager at Resume Genius. “We’re seeing more job seekers lean into this shift by listing skills like time management, project management and digital communication. It’s clear that folks who take the time to show they can thrive in a hybrid setting are giving themselves a real edge in today’s job market.”
A Final Takeaway: Good News For Graduating Job Seekers
According to Eva Chan, career expert at Resume Genius, the job market in 2025 is shaping up to be especially welcoming to new graduates. “There’s real opportunity out there, and grads should feel hopeful.,” she reassures graduates.
“Employers are placing more value on problem-solving, hands-on experience and initiative than ever before. That means it’s worth listing every relevant internship, volunteer role or student org involvement–even class projects showing real-world skills.” And if your dream company isn’t hiring just yet, Chan advises job seekers to not hesitate to reach out and ask about internships, concluding that it’s a great way to get your foot in the door and show what you can bring to the table.
Forbes
