How many pages should my resume be?

Have you ever looked at your resume and debated if it is too short? Or too long? Does your resume have enough information? Too much information? Where do you draw the line of what to include or what not to include? Even if you were to Google this question, you get inconsistent answers. So how many pages should your resume be?

Once upon a time, someone came up with a rule that resumes should not exceed one page. However, new research by the ResumeGo Institute suggests that job recruiters are more than twice as likely to prefer two-page resumes over one-page resumes. The study also revealed that recruiters were willing to spend more time reading them. Despite preconceived notions that recruiters are unwilling to spend more than a few seconds reviewing each resume, their study found that participants were spending 2 minutes 24 seconds on one-page resumes and 4 minutes 5 seconds on two-page resumes.

So, does that mean that all resumes should be two pages?

While candidates should no longer feel pressured to cut their resumes down to one page, they should not try to stretch their resume to a second page if it doesn't make sense. The length of your resume should ultimately be based on your experience and the type of job you're seeking. Furthermore, resumes should not outline every single experience, skill, function or responsibility you have gained. It is more effective to provide a resume reviewer with a “sales brochure” of your professional self, including just enough information to leave the reviewer wanting more from an interview.

Entry Level

For entry-level applicants, less is more and sometimes a one-page resume is best. This can be the same for employees transitioning to a new career field. If you are further along in your career and have decided to make a major career change, your resume may be reduced to only one page that highlights your transferable skills and parts of your experience that are relevant to this new job goal. The biggest mistake entry-level applicants make is adding in too much “fluff” or irrelevant content to make the resume appear longer with hopes it looking like you have more experience then you really do. Hiring managers and recruiters will see right through this; instead focus on your true expertise, accomplishments and achievements, even if it is minimal.

For example, if you’re a recent graduate and do not have many accomplishments such as internships, co-ops, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities then you likely won't have enough material expand to a second page. The last thing you want to do is include irrelevant details, outdated information, or have a crazy format in order to extend your resume to a second page. This will not help your chances of landing a job. Recent college graduate should also remove any references to high school awards and extracurricular activities as recruiters are more interested in activities you did while on campus pursing your degree.

Mid-Career

If you are a mid-level candidate (5 -10 years of related experience), it is likely you will have a two-page resume. This allows you the space to include all relevant information and work history, while still making your resume readable. You might also write a two-page resume if you are in a field that requires technical skills. This resume length will allow you the space to include your relevant skills and experiences. If you find your resume expanding onto 3 pages, take another look and see what information you can remove to keep it to two pages.

Additionally, review the amount of job experience you are including. If you have positions dating 10+ years, consider adding in a new section header “Additional Professional Experience” where you can include the company name, location, position title, and even a brief description of your experience concisely. This allows the focus and space for the more recent positions. Also, remove filler jobs you’ve held, or positions right out of college that don’t add any value to your current job search.

Executive

Executives or senior-level managers often have a longer work history and lists of accomplishments and experiences that they want include. They should also try and keep their resumes to two pages if possible. Resumes should rarely be three pages or more. That length is better suited for a LinkedIn profile or those with a comprehensive CV, for instance, people in the sciences or academia who want to include their licenses, patents, or publications.

So, to answer the question, how many pages should my resume be? Well, it is up to you. Reflect on your job history, length of experience, and relevant skills and determine what would work best for you. Or seek the advice of a resume writing professional to discuss your options.

Check Career Connection’s other blog posts for more information regarding resume writing best practices and resources: https://www.careerconnectionsllc.com/resources