How Long Your Resume Should Be: Finding the Perfect Length

When it comes to crafting a compelling resume, one common question that job seekers often grapple
with is, "How long should my resume be?" Striking the right balance between providing enough
information to showcase your qualifications and keeping it concise is crucial in catching the attention
of potential employers.

One Page or Two?

The traditional advice has been to limit your resume to a single page. This recommendation stems
from the idea that hiring managers may not have the time or patience to sift through lengthy
documents. However, in certain industries and for candidates with extensive experience, a two-page
resume may be more appropriate.

Consider Your Experience

The length of your resume should align with your level of experience. Entry-level candidates may
find it easier to stick to a one-page format, focusing on highlighting key skills and relevant
coursework. On the other hand, seasoned professionals with a wealth of accomplishments and career
milestones might need the additional space afforded by a two-page resume.

Tailor to the Job

Rather than fixating on a specific page count, prioritize tailoring your resume to the job you're
applying for. Highlight the skills, experiences, and achievements most relevant to the position. A
targeted resume not only grabs the attention of hiring managers but also demonstrates a clear
alignment between your qualifications and the job requirements.

Quality Over Quantity

Regardless of the length, the content of your resume should be impactful and relevant. Use concise
language to convey your accomplishments and responsibilities. Bullet points can be an effective way
to present information in a clear and organized manner, making it easier for employers to quickly
grasp your key strengths.

Leverage Professional Services

Crafting a compelling resume can be a challenging task. If you find yourself struggling to strike the
right balance or want expert guidance, consider enlisting the help of professional resume services.
Websites like BestResumeHelp.com offer tailored assistance to ensure your resume effectively
showcases your skills and experiences, helping you stand out in a competitive job market.

In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of resume length. Tailor your
resume to your unique experience and the specific job you're applying for. With careful consideration
and perhaps a bit of professional assistance, you can create a resume that makes a lasting impression
on potential employers.
If you can fit everything onto one page, but your resume is dense and hard to read, that won’t
benefit you. Resume Format Pick the right resume format for your situation. More importantly,
they’re looking for skills that will be beneficial to them. Advertising These cookies are placed by
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UB's Design and Dreams Fashion for Strength, for Life, and for Suicide Prevention 2010,11,12.
Carefully read through the requirements for the job you’re applying for, and adjust your resume to
that specific job listing. He knew once he secured an interview he could get the job. It’s a marketing
piece with the sole purpose of “selling” you to your next employer. In a fast-changing society,
candidates accumulate a wider and more diverse experience than before. Size 12 is standard for most
documents so if you are able to, consider using 12-point font. IMPORTANT NOTE: Your resume
should never exceed three pages. You've done 35 unique projects, each with its own standout
achievements. Ideal Resume Length for 2019 Additionally, your years of experience, key
achievements, number of employers, audience, industry, and career goals should be. The key is to
present your information as concisely as possible, and condense content sufficiently, while still
conveying the main messages. When a hiring manager reads your resume with no transferable skills,
they might discard your application. Anything longer will almost definitely be filled with
unnecessary fluff. For instance, if you took a job after graduation that had nothing to do with your
degree, it would make more sense to list relevant internships you participated in while in school.
Draw attention to the responsibilities most relevant to where you are applying. Entry-Level Resumes
For entry-level applicants, less is more. Your resume is important because it should be long enough to
provide a complete picture of your work history and skills but not so long that it becomes
cumbersome or overwhelming for the reader. The margins on your paper are not something you think
a lot about. When a resume is long, recruiters might stop reading and simply skim through the
document. Making it easy for hiring managers or recruiters to immediately view your strengths and
skillset is one of the main things that will get you an interview. Consenting to these technologies will
allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this
site and show (non-) personalized ads. Deciding which of your previous positions to include and
how much information to write about each of them is an important part of the resume writing
process, and should be evaluated on a case by case basis. This length provides enough information
to display your skill set but saves something to chat about during an interview. Cramming all those
details into a single page would affect the reader’s ability to skim the document. Unless specifically
stated otherwise, such references are not intended to imply any affiliation or association with Zety.
Create a resume now CV CV Builder Create a CV in 5 minutes. It may also be used by someone
who is switching career paths as they do not have a lot of relevant information.
After all, you’re writing to impress them and consider you as their top choice for the job post. So
they get applicant tracking systems to do it for them. If you occupied the same job for over a decade,
you will have countless responsibilities. IMPORTANT NOTE: Your resume should never exceed
three pages. Maybe you've got some great ideas for how far back a resume should go. A resume or
curriculum vitae or CV with up to five or more pages is optimal for this job level. If you have
sufficient experience and relevant content for two pages, then going with 2 pages is ideal for you.
Remember, you’re more likely to be shortlisted and have your resume read if it’s not cluttered and
crowded. A leading specialty retailer of women's fashions and accessories. CV Help Improve your
CV with help from expert guides. It is also important to remember that these jobs are high-paying
and require an industry veteran with plenty of experience. Blog Resume Help How Long Should a
Resume Be? (Ideal Resume Length) How Long Should a Resume Be? (Ideal Resume Length)
Create Your Resume Now Tom Gerencer, CPRW Career Expert Updated: January 31, 2024 Article
Rating: 4.43 Share: Our customers have been hired by: Table of Contents Show Hide Intro How
Long Should a Resume Be. As such, do not try to cram your experience into a set word count. If you
can sensibly make three bullet points into one, do it. These are the factors that vary for every
candidate which can determine how long your resume should be. Longer resumes are fine for lots of
achievements—like if you’re an artist or a project manager. 3 key resume length considerations. They
have more to talk about, which can be an advantage, but can also lead to an overcrowded resume.
For positions you held more than 10-12 years ago, keep the descriptions very brief (or consider
dropping them if they don’t add value) Remember What Really Matters Try to view your resume
from the perspective of the hiring manager. Your resume can be one page, but it does not have to be.
Resume length has been a subject of debate in recent years; however, many studies have
demonstrated that a hiring manager will spend a maximum of 10-seconds reviewing everything.
Keep in mind that disabling cookies may affect your experience on the Site. Without correct contact
information, there is no way for a recruiter to reach out to you for an interview. If you are a mid-
level candidate and have 5-10 years of experience, you are entitled to a second page if you need it.
The key thing to know is that you are telling your story and showcasing your value. The real secret to
success when editing a lengthy resume is that the job is never really done. You have to demonstrate
to the recruiter that you have gained transferable skills from these jobs and how they relate to your
prospective role. If you’re seeking a management position, a reverse-chronological resume helps
recruiters to evaluate a candidate. The purpose of your resume summary statement is to introduce
your resume quickly and effectively, as well as branding yourself to the potential employer. Have you
ever acted in a leadership capacity, even if it wasn’t in your job description. UNIVERSITY AT
BUFFALO, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, Buffalo, NY.
Instead of cramming every entry-level job and internship you've ever had onto one sheet of paper
(two sheets if you have more than 10 years of experience), pick and choose the roles most relevant
to the one you’re applying for. Instead, just make sure you change your summary or objective and
keep it relevant to the job listing. Your resume can be one page, but it does not have to be. You can
alter the fonts and tweak the format, but don’t go overboard. Here's what it may look like: Create
my cover letter now See more cover letter templates and start writing. Applicant Tracking Systems
make it easier to submit longer resumes. If you occupied the same job for over a decade, you will
have countless responsibilities. If you haven’t bumped your spacing up from 1 to 1.15, that will add
space and make it more readable without changing anything else on your resume. For example, let’s
take a look at Enhancv’s executive resume template: Instead of just plainly telling, it’s more
powerful to show. Get a weekly dose of inspiration delivered to your inbox Must be a valid e-mail
address. No matter what the candidate’s professional level is, it doesn’t make a big difference. In
most cases, the ideal resume length is one to two pages. It’s acceptable to have some gaps on the
page and leave some space. And allow you to better interact with social media platforms such as
Facebook. While the ideal resume length depends on several factors, the main goal is to keep it as
short as possible while conveying enough information to catch the reader’s eye. Note that the key
phrase here is “reader friendly”. Use Keywords Resume keywords are usually associated with
applicant tracking systems that scan resumes, but HR personnel and hiring managers also look for
keywords when they review new resumes. The company does best at enhancing your resume and
helping market yourself better to land the job you love. The rest of us can use a single-page resume
template. Blog Resume Help How Long Should a Resume Be? (Ideal Resume Length) How Long
Should a Resume Be? (Ideal Resume Length) Create Your Resume Now Tom Gerencer, CPRW
Career Expert Updated: January 31, 2024 Article Rating: 4.43 Share: Our customers have been hired
by: Table of Contents Show Hide Intro How Long Should a Resume Be. Extending your resume to
two pages is acceptable when you absolutely need to communicate key achievements, experiences,
projects, and other relevant information. However, this doesn’t mean that Mia was frivolous in her
space-usage. But it’s becoming more and more acceptable to send longer resumes when the situation
calls for it. So your first page can highlight all the things you want it to, while your second page can
act as back-up when you make it past the first round. Click below to consent to the above or make
granular choices. One of the factors to consider when writing a resume that will get you an interview
is resume format. Have you ever acted in a leadership capacity, even if it wasn’t in your job
description. To keep it concise yet striking, write your resume with the employer’s needs in mind.
Executive resume This time, let’s look at an executive resume. According to a study, recruiters and
employers take about 6 seconds to look over a resume and decide if the applicant is a good fit.