Impressions of the resume: The effects of applicant education, experience, and impression management

Business persons each read a hypothetical variation of a resume arrayed in a 2 (relevant versus irrelevant education) × 2 (relevant versus irrelevant job experience) × 2 (impression management versus no impression management statements) factorial design and completed a survey on their perceptions. Results showed that relevant education produced more positive perceptions of competence, potential, and predicted salary, while relevant experience enhanced perceptions of competence, potential, self-confidence, and background checking. Education and experience interacted on several variables. Impression management produced positive perceptions of interpersonal skill, self-confidence, and hireability. Implications for writing resumes were discussed.

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