How Long Should a Resume Be

The most common misconception of resume writing is that your entire professional history must squeeze onto one page. The truth is the resume should be well written and concise, and should promote your qualifications in the best possible light. This is sometimes impossible to do in one page, so the document can extend to multiple pages depending on your career background.

Firstly: Be Concise

Being concise is critical. Do not use lengthy sentences and paragraph forms to disclose your experience and your education. Employers want clear statements that highlight your qualifications. A resume is not a place to show your creative writing skills.

Perfect your Resume

You only have a few seconds to catch your potential employer’s attention. Therefore make sure that your cv is properly formatted and you are not trying to fit too much copy on a single page of paper. Create appropriate and professional sections for your cv. Your potential employer is more concerned with the look and content of your resume than with its length.

Longer is not Better

Longer is not better when you don’t have the experience to meet all the requirements of the job posting. If you are new to the job market, are changing careers, stick to a one-page resume . If you don’t have the experience to meet all the requirements no matter the reason, do not apologize for it. Don’t try to fill up your resume with irrelevant content. Instead do your best to highlight your transferable skills. This way your resume becomes short and professional and straight to the point.

Read More: 7 Secrets to a job winning resume

In most cases two pages are enough

The most relevant information must be included on the first page. The second page will be used to complete your background and your job history.  This way it will in a natural way complement the first page. This way the employer won’t discard the second page of your resume.

If you find yourself going over two pages, review your cv. Make sure that you are not incorporating information that is irrelevant to your goals or to the position you are seeking.

Unless you are applying for an executive-level job, or are composing a curriculum vitae, your cv should not exceed two pages. The purpose of a well-written cv is to sell you as the best candidate for the job with a confident and a straight-forward approach. Do not oversell your skills. Do not list more than three to five previous positions you have held. Stick to those skills and experiences that target the job.

Make sure that your professional history warrants a cv that is three pages or longer. As mentioned above, unless you are a senior- or executive-level professional, your cv should not extend to over two pages.

Where the resume may become longer

If you need to include an extensive list of publications or certifications, your resume can take up more than three pages. Make sure that the important information is still listed on the first page. This includes your professional profile and your current or most recent professional experience.

Tip!

If you have had decades of leadership, demonstrate that using the reverse chronological resume style. Only list those jobs that best qualify you for the position you are seeking.

The team of professional resume writers at the Target Resume team resume writing service has worked with hundreds of job seekers over the years. This way we are helping them achieve their career goals with professional resumes and other career documents. If you’d like to work with a professional resume writer on your resume and cover letter, or even your LinkedIn profile, and jump-start your job search, get in touch with us today.

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