The book reported which of the following findings?

• A. They spend about 20 seconds reviewing a resume
• B. They read every resume in detail
• C. They only review resumes from referrals
• D. They always contact references first

Answer: (A)

When recruiters sort through many applicants, the speed of the first screening matters. The finding reported is that they spend about 20 seconds on a resume during that initial pass. In that short window, they’re looking for clear alignment with the job: relevant experience, observable outcomes, needed skills, and readable formatting or keywords that jump out. Because time is limited, a resume that is easy to scan and highlights fit will survive this quick skim, while one that doesn’t clearly signal relevance is likely set aside for a deeper look later.

This explains why presentation matters: use concise bullets, quantify achievements, and mirror phrases from the job description so the resume quickly communicates suitability. The other options don’t fit typical hiring practice: reading every resume in detail would take much longer than the initial pass allows; relying only on referrals ignores the majority of applicants; and checking references first usually happens after an initial shortlist, not during the first skim.