This is a picture of my daughter last week, caught mid-stride on Woolacombe beach. You can’t actually see any movement in the image, but your brain assumes that she is running from left to right, rather than stationary and hovering in mid-air. And your brain is correct!

But what other assumptions are you making that might NOT be true? Plenty!

CV reading is a good example of this. Are you guilty of thinking any of these things?

“Prestigious university = top performer.” Academic pedigree can look impressive, but it doesn’t predict real-world problem-solving / teamwork ability.

“Job-hopper = unreliable.” Changing jobs frequently might suggest instability — or it might reflect ambition, adaptability, or an industry trend (especially in tech). Remember covid, too – lots of people were forced to make changes then.

“Big-name employer = excellent training.” A household name on the CV might suggest high standards, but the candidate’s individual contribution could still be unclear (you can trust me on this – I worked for a Big Four accountancy practice but I would NOT hire myself as an accountant now).

So yes, my daughter WAS running on the beach — this time your brain got it right. But when it comes to hiring decisions, our instincts aren’t always as reliable.

Question them.

#devon #running #recruitment#assumptions