The Recruiter's First Pass
Your resume is skimmed before it is read. Write for both, in that order.
Survive the skim. Reward the read.
The skim looks for fit
Current title, company type, years, domain. A reviewer is deciding whether to spend real attention on you, and they decide from the top of the page.
Density beats length
Every line should earn its place. If a skim would not miss it, cut it — the white space you win back makes the remaining lines easier to scan.
Then the read tests it
Once you pass the skim, specifics carry you. Numbers, scope, and what you personally owned versus what your team did.
Before
A resume opening with a four-line summary about career goals.
After
A resume opening with role, years, domain, then straight into the most relevant position.
An objective statement describes what you want. The reviewer is deciding what you can do. Space at the top of page one is the most valuable on the document.
Do this before moving on
Give your resume to someone for fifteen seconds, then take it away and ask what role they think you are going for. If they cannot say, the top of your page is doing the wrong job.
Check yourself
What earns its place at the very top of your resume?