The 11-second figure is not marketing copy. Eye-tracking studies of recruiters reviewing CVs put the first decision somewhere between eight and fourteen seconds. Senior CVs are no exception — if anything, the scan is faster because the reader is hunting for specific signals.
In that window the recruiter is asking three questions: is this candidate at the right level, in the right sector, with the right kind of evidence? Everything below the first third of page one is reviewed only if those three answers are yes.
Which means the first third of page one is where almost all of your editing effort should go.
What the eye lands on
- Your name and the title under it — these are read as a pair.
- The opening line of your summary — read in full.
- Your most recent job title and employer — scanned for fit.
- The first two bullets of that role — scanned for scale.
What that means for editing
If the four elements above do not collectively communicate level, sector, and one credible proof point, the rest of the CV will not be reached. This is true even when the rest of the CV is excellent.
A simple test
Cover everything below the first third of page one and hand the document to someone unfamiliar with your career. Ask them what you do, at what level, and what your strongest result is. If they cannot answer in fifteen seconds, the top of your CV needs work — not the bottom.