Taking into account requests from our readers, we started a series of articles titled ‘Resume Makeover Series.’ The objective is to take you through the complete process of writing a resume, with best practices for each stage.
In article we answer the common quesiton about how long a resume should be.
The answer to the question is – It depends. In most instances, we suggest that a resume should be 1 to 2 pages long. A one pager is perfectly alright, as long as it is readable and captures all your relevant experience/education. Two pages is fine as well, if you need more space to communicate your candidacy. More than two pages is generally not ideal, unless for example, you have significant work experience and are a very senior executive.
Here is what Susan Whitcomb discovered while researching her popular book, Resume Magic (JIST Works) – “I conducted a survey of HR managers from some of the Top 100 Companies to Work for in America. One survey question asked their opinions as to the length of a resume. The results revealed that 12 percent of respondents felt resumes should be one-page, never longer; 67 percent felt resumes should be kept to one or two pages; and 21 percent responded as long as needed to convey the applicant’s qualifications.
Below are some guidelines (not rules – remember it always depends) from an informal survey of members of the Career Masters Institute and Professional Resume Writers and Research Association:
Resumes for new grads and entry-level job-seekers are often, but not always, one page
Supplemental sheets and addenda provide a way to present additional information without adding to the length of the resume itself
No matter what the length, the resume must capture attention on the first page, preferably the first third of the first page
Whatever page your resume ends on, text should fill at least a third to a half of the page
Don’t sacrifice your resume’s readability to make it conform to any arbitrary “rules” about resume length
Page numbers, headers, and footers can aid continuity in a resume that is two or more pages
For executives at the highest levels (senior management, executive VP, and “C-level” positions such as CEO, CIO, CTO, COO) even two pages is probably not enough; three, four, or more pages may be required
Amit Puri is the Managing Consultant at Sandbox Advisors. He has over 10 years of business, career services and HR related experience, with companies such as Bain & Co, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup. Sandbox Advisors is based in Singapore and provides career management/advice, job search, interview, resume and HR consulting services in Asia.
