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Usability research
Read time3 min readUpdatedDecember 2025

How People Scan Resumes

How readers scan resumes for structure, signal, and proof that it is worth their time to look closer.

The Known Pattern

The F-Pattern

Eyes scan horizontally at the top, then shorter horizontal movements below, then scan the left margin.1Resume-specific eye tracking shows attention clustering around headers and recent-role anchors.2

Source
Nielsen Norman Group (2006-2020)
Sample
Observed across multiple usability studies1

The Scan Pattern Transfer

General web reading patterns transfer when resumes are structured with clear left-edge anchors.12

Eye Tracking
Fig. 1 — Gaze PlotTypical 'F-Pattern' Scanning Behavior

Scanning vs Reading

Readers skim under pressure. They look for anchors: headers, numbers, company names. Dense paragraphs often fail the scan test.12

Structure Wins

Predictable layouts let eyes move faster with more confidence.1

One Idea Per Bullet

Recruiter lens: single-idea bullets are easier to scan than multi-idea paragraphs.

Definition: scan anchors

Scan anchors are the small pieces of text that let a reader orient quickly: role titles, company names, dates, and measurable outcomes. Without anchors, the page reads as a blur.2

What this means for bullet writing

Make each bullet scannable. Lead with the result or the action, then add context. If the first three words are vague, the rest will not be read.

Limitations

  • •Eye-tracking is a proxy for attention, not for final decisions.
  • •Different roles create different scanning priorities.
  • •Resumes are not web pages, so the pattern is directional, not exact.

FAQ

Is the F-pattern proven on resumes?

The F-pattern is a general web reading pattern. Resume eye-tracking shows attention clustering around headers and recent roles, which aligns with the left-edge scan behavior.

Do two-column resumes hurt scanning?

Two-column layouts can work but are easier to misread by both humans and parsers. The safest path is a single column with strong left-edge anchors.

What is the fastest way to improve scanability?

Use consistent headings, front-load role titles and companies, and keep bullets to one idea each.

Optimizing for the Scan

01

Readability Score

We calculate formatting consistency and density to give you a 'Scan Score'.

02

Report Structure

Our report itself is designed to be scanned, modeling the behavior we teach.

Related Research

How Recruiters ReadResearchSpelling Errors ImpactHeuristicsResume Length MythsStructure

Sources

  1. F-Shaped Pattern for Reading Web Content - Nielsen Norman Group (2006-2020).
  2. TheLadders Eye-Tracking Study - TheLadders (2012).
  3. TheLadders Eye-Tracking Study (2018 Update) - TheLadders (2018).

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