07. Resume Writing: Length
Posted by Ric on November 2nd, 2008
How long should my resume be?
How long should my resume is a common question. “Make it short, one page or if necessary two pages”, is a common recommendation. I have some trouble with that idea.
Experience has shown me that the length of your resume is determined by the purpose of your resume.
The purpose of a resume
The purpose of a resume is to get you an interview for a job.
How does a resume help to get an interview?
You get an interview for a job by effectively presenting qualified and quantified information about your skills, education, training, experience and accomplishments.
No time for a long resume?
It is often said that “No one has time to read a long resume.”
- It is true is that interviewers do not have the time to wade through a poorly laid-out document.
- On the other hand, interviewers do not have the time to spent hours with you trying to find out if you have the skills and experience that they are looking for.
So what is the answer?
Prepare a well laid-out, effectively and concisely written document that truthfully presents all of your skills, experience and achievements in a quantified and qualified manner. Use point form. The length will reflect the depth and breadth of your experience. Five (5) or six (6) pages is not unusual.
If you were preparing a C.V., curriculum vitae, which is a complete, detailed history of your life - you could end up with 60 or 70 pages.
Table of Contents
- 01. Easy Steps To Writing A Resume That Will Get You Interviews
- 02. Resume Writing: Present all the benefits you can provide to an employer
- 03. Resume Writing: 5 major employer hiring concerns
- 04. Resume Writing: The single purpose of an IT resume
- 05. Resume Writing: Use a universal document type
- 06. Resume Writing: Use a meaningful resume file name
- 07. Resume Writing: Length
- 08. Resume Writing: Content
- 09. Resume Writing: Content - Heading
- 10. Resume Writing: Content - Body
- 11. Resume Writing: Content - Layout
- 12. Resume Writing: Take action!
