If you’ve recently advertised a job—especially in this climate—you’ve likely been hit with 100, 200, maybe even 500 applications.
At first, it feels like success.
Then reality hits.
Now you’ve got to go through them all.
You’re not alone. This is one of the biggest pain points we hear from in-house hiring managers, HR teams, and founders trying to recruit themselves.
Here’s the truth: you don’t need to read every CV line-by-line.
You just need a smart, consistent system to get to the shortlist—fast.
Here’s exactly how to do it:
🔹 Step 1: Create a Basic Screening Grid
Before you open a single CV, define what “good” looks like. Make a simple scoring sheet with 3–5 criteria that matter most for the role, such as:
| Criteria | Score 1–3 |
| Relevant experience | |
| Location | |
| Right to work | |
| Salary alignment | |
| Clear career story |
Don’t overcomplicate it—this isn’t for final selection. It’s for speed sorting.
🔹 Step 2: Quick CV Triage – Batch in 10s
Work in small batches. Open 10 CVs at a time and scan for the essentials:
- Do they meet the role basics?
- Is their experience relevant?
- Any glaring red flags?
Spend no more than 60–90 seconds per CV. If they don’t score at least 6/10, move on.
🔹 Step 3: Automate Obvious No’s
Use filters (where available) to eliminate:
- Location mismatches
- Lack of right to work
- Irrelevant job functions
- Overqualified or way over budget
You can even use free tools like ChatGPT or CV Parser plugins to extract structured data if you’re swamped.
🔹 Step 4: Spot Red Flags Early
Check for these warning signs:
- Vague job history or big unexplained gaps
- Job hopping without context
- “Open to anything” cover letters
- Unrealistic salary histories or sudden shifts in seniority
If anything feels off, park it. Move on.
🔹 Step 5: Prioritise Call-Worthy CVs
Create an “A” and “B” pile. Your “A” pile should have 10–15 people worth calling immediately. Don’t wait to review them all—call as you go.
Why?
Because top candidates don’t stick around. By the time you finish reviewing 200 CVs, they’ll be gone.
🧠 Bonus Tip: Use the “Gut Score”
If you’re an experienced hirer, trust your gut. Some CVs just feel right—clean, clear, and confident. Shortlist those. You can always validate later.
The Outcome?
This process allows you to screen 200 CVs in under 2 hours and get your shortlist moving within a single day. That’s 3x faster than traditional methods—and way more productive.
🚨 Still drowning in CVs?
We offer a Recruiter-Lite Filtering Service:
- We review and score all applicants
- We screen top candidates
- We deliver a qualified shortlist you can action immediately
⚡ Save time. Improve quality. No full agency fee.
📩 DM us or click here to book a quick chat about your next hire.
