How long should the resume be?

We will explain in which cases you can get a one-page resume and in which it is better to describe the experience in more detail.

Write a one-page resume if …

… you are a student or a recent graduate

Usually, students do not have enough experience for a single resume page, but even if you have any trades in your 20s, do not try to show everything in your resume. It is tempting to write about the audience award in the first place in the “length jump” and the children’s beauty contest, but you do not need to do that.

It is important for the resume to reflect only the information that would characterize you from a professional point of view as a great specialist or at least a promising novice.

… you have less than 4 years of work experience

Typically, 3-4 years of work fits perfectly in a one-page resume if you are writing about a case. Most likely, you worked in one or two companies during these two years and if you change 6 companies in 3 years, it is already doubtful and will cause unnecessary questions from the recruiter.

… You have a lot of experience, but in 1-2 companies

Even in the same company you can achieve great results and quickly climb the career ladder – we understand. But still, the resume does not need to repeat the same duties, even if you change positions.

For example, you initially worked as a secretary and then held the position of Assistant Accountant, but some of the responsibilities of a secretary remained with you. Describe these responsibilities only for the role of secretary and demonstrate the experience of working as an assistant accountant in other functions.

… radically change the field of activity

Suppose you have a lot of experience as a designer, but suddenly you decide to give up everything and start a career as an analyst. Agree, this is a different field and Figma’s knowledge will not be useful to the analyst. So the resume should be written as a complete beginner!

Your resume may seem blank and you may want to write about your non-core work experience, but that is superfluous. In your resume, list only the overlapping skills and responsibilities, and in the cover letter, the reasons for the change of profession.

Make a resume of 2 pages or more if …

… Your work experience is 8-10 years

If you have not worked hard for 10 years, you will definitely have something to talk about in your resume. But again – you do not need to intentionally increase the resume to make it look more compelling. Even if 8 years of experience fits on one page, it’s perfect!

… You apply for the role of leader

Executive resumes are even more in demand than others, so it is unlikely that you will be able to afford a one-page resume in this case. Recruiters may have the impression that your experience is not enough for leadership, so feel free to create a multi-page resume. But without water.

… Your field of activity is science and public service

It is important to work in the field of science and public service to tell us as much as possible about your experience: the entire course of study, all diplomas and certificates, additional training, etc. Sometimes a simple list of names of educational institutions and specialties takes up half of the resume.

… You have a mixed experience

Usually, a resume refers to a classic work experience: by workbook, by registration, and by permanent employment. But many people have more diverse work experiences: internships, volunteering, freelance work, study abroad, and so on. All of this diverse experience is unlikely to be packaged on a single resume page.

And last but not least, the headline made you read this article. The resume should reflect your professional skills, personal qualities that will be useful at work, and experience that is useful to a particular employer. And left the diploma “Most Beautiful Mermaid-2003” to his mother.

For clarity, we have doubled the basic rules for compiling a single and multi-page resume in a picture. You can save and send to friends, and if you have any questions – send to our blog;)

source: i can choose