How Long Should Your Resume Be

How Long Should Your Resume Be The one-page resume vs. the two-page resumeHow Many Pages Should Your Resume Be Theres an age-old debate about whether size matters that affects job seekers How long should your resume be?If your resume is too short or skimpy, recruiters and hiring managers will think you dont have a lot to bring to the table, says Peter Yang, New York Citybased co-founder of the resume writing service ResumeGo. On the flip side, if your resume is too long and bloated, readers will likely get bored or annoyed.So, whats the middle ground for writing your resume? While theres no hard-and-fast rule, says Kim Isaacs, a nationally certified resume writer and director of ResumePower.com based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, your industry and level of experience can help you determine if your resume should be one or two (or more) pages long.When to use a one-page resumeThe one-page resume is ideal for entry-level workers, new college graduates, and those who have a few years of work experience, Yang says. Additionally, you should consider a one-page resume if youre looking to make a career change and dont have much experience relevant to your new goal.The quicker you can get to the point, the better, Isaacs says. Hiring managers are busy people, sometimes having to sort through hundreds of applications.You get about six seconds of their attention when theyre making their anfangsbuchstabe fit-or-no-fit decision, says Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, president and CEO of Great Resumes Fast in Callahan,Florida.So, how can you make good use of your resume real estate and really stand out? By being strategic with keywords, quanitifying your achievements, and, most importantly, keeping it concise. This way, your resume will make a good first impression on the recruiter, as it typically serves as your first point of contact when you apply to a company. Not to mention, a resume thats all over the place doesnt say much about your organizational skills, does it?When to use a two-page resumeThat doesnt mean you have to cram all of your experience on one page with a teeny tiny font that you need a magnifying glass to read. Readability and overall presentation need to be factored in, too.Most resume reviewers would rather read a well-laid-out, easy-to-skim, two-page resume than a one-page resume that jams too much information on the page, Isaacs says.A two-page resume makes sense for many job seekers, especially those who are further along in their career, with 10 or more years of relevant job experience. The extra page may be needed to convey all of the critical information an employer needs to know, Holbrook Hernandez says. Keep in mind, however, that the second page likely wont get as much attention as the first, so its best to make sure youre using the right resume format (think chronological vs. functional).When to use a three (or more)-page resumeMost people believe resumes should fit on two pages max, no matter how long youve been working. However, as with all rules, Yang says there are some exceptions.For example, if you work for the federal government youre a senior-level manager with a long track record of accomplishments or youre writing an academic CV for a research or scientific position and have an extensive list of publications, speaking engagements, professional courses, licenses, or certifications then you may need to extend your resume to three or more pages.The final word on resume lengthIn the end, the length doesnt matter quite as much as the content filling the pages. If you can capture your qualifications on one page, great. But if it takes two pages or more, thats OK, too.Ive had new grads do well with two-page resumes and top executives do well with only one page, Isaacs says.Just remember Your resume should be a high-level look at your accomplishments that entices the hiring manager to want to learn more. A resume is like the copy on the back cover of a book, designed to make you want to re ad the book, Isaacs says. Its not the whole book.Once youve nailed down the right length for your resume, visit Monster to see whos hiring.Have your resume checked outWe get it it can be tricky writing a professional resume that covers all your sternfrmig qualities. Remember, the stronger your resume is, the greater your chances of scoring interviews and landing a job. Could you use some help putting together an awesome resume?Get a free resume evaluation today from the experts atMonsters Resume Writing Service. Youll get detailed feedback in two business days, including a review ofyour resumes appearance and content, and a prediction of a recruiters first impression. Let us help you put your best foot forward as you embark on the job search journey.