How to do blind resume review on a small team
Blind review means reading applications without names and personal details in the first pass. It is one of the simplest ways to make a hiring decision more about the job.
Why it helps
Everyone forms impressions from a name, a photo, an address, or a graduation year, often without noticing. Hiding those details during the first read keeps attention on experience and skills. It also protects your team: when someone asks why a candidate was or was not advanced, the answer is about the work.
What to hide
- Name and contact details (email, phone, address)
- Photos and social media links
- Graduation years and dates that reveal age, when possible
How to run it by hand
Assign one person who will not be rating to strip identifying details from each resume and give each applicant a number. Reviewers rate the numbered versions against the job's priorities. Names are revealed only after the first-round ratings are in. It works, but it takes hours for every search, and one missed detail undoes it.
How to run it in SealedApply
Turn on blind review in your search settings. Reviewers see an application number instead of a name, and contact details are hidden in the first pass. The search owner can reveal identities when the team is ready. If you use the AI hiring advisor, names, emails, phone numbers, and links are removed before the application is analyzed, and the AI is told to ignore protected characteristics. Read how the AI works.
Blind review is a first step, not the whole answer
Pair it with clear priorities agreed before you read anything, independent ratings before group discussion, and the same core questions for every interview. Together they make a fairer process and a better hire.
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