What's The Right Length For My Resume?

In my work as a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), the single biggest question I get from clients is: how long should my resume be, really? The Internet is filled with conflicting advice on this issue, so it's not surprising that jobseekers frequently feel insecure about it. After all, a resume that's too long will make a reader's eyes glaze over (not the best first impression). But on the other hand, a needlessly abbreviated document means less chances of a particular accomplishment nabbing a reader's interest...and more rejections. Is there a middle ground?

Here's one principle all jobseekers need to keep in mind when developing a resume (or hiring a professional to develop one for them): your resume needs to attract and sustain a reader's interest throughout its length. A 1-page resume can fail just as easily as a 2 or 3-page document if the language is weak and the structure cluttered. With that in mind, here are some general rules with regards to length that should work for you:

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL: Beginner or New Graduate
RECOMMENDATION: A 1-Page Resume

Don't feel the need to bulk up your resume if you don't have much of a work history: recruiters and hiring agents prize clarity and succinctness. Instead, identify those areas in which you particularly excel and:

-Develop a brief opening paragraph that focuses on SOFT SKILLS such as communication abilities, effectively managing multiple project demands, and negotiating agreements.

-If you've recently obtained a degree, then you should most probably include an "Education" section BEFORE getting into the work history.

-Keep the work history section limited to 2-3 lines (in paragraph form) describing unique responsibilities, followed by a "Key Accomplishments" section (if relevant) listing any successes you're particularly proud of.

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL: Experienced
RECOMMENDATION: A 2-Page Resume

If you've been working for 5 or more years, then a 2-page resume is probably your best bet. This length strikes the perfect balance between being concise and allowing your professional accomplishments to shine.

-Keep the opening paragraph as TARGETED as possible towards the kind of job you're seeking. Really highlight in-demand skills that are requested time and time again in job postings, and make sure they're expanded upon within the work history section.

-When listing accomplishments for particular jobs, it's important to use specific metrics wherever possible. This instantly increases the overall impact of the document and can make a significant difference in terms of the number of interviews you receive when submitting.

-Be sure to include any courses, training or certifications that might be pertinent at the tail end of the resume. You can change the "Education" section to read as "Education & Advanced Training" and insert them there.

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL: Expert
RECOMMENDATION: A 2 or 3-Page Resume

It's important for high-level professionals to realize that a resume should never attempt to encapsulate absolutely everything you've done. It should serve as a TEASER for your candidacy, highlighting just enough relevant accomplishments to pique a reader's interest and have them call you in for an interview. With that in mind, a 2-page resume is almost always the best solution UNLESS you have a body of work that can truly sustain interest for 3 pages.

-The opening paragraph needs to highlight leadership capabilities regardless of industry. If you've published in prestigious magazines or have master-level professional certifications, mention them here.

-Precise targeting is necessary within the work history section. Don't make the mistake of thinking all jobs deserve the same amount of space within the resume. Keep the focus tight on relevant jobs, particularly those held within the past 10-12 years.

I hope these suggestions prove helpful to you. Should you have specific questions about your job search documents, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Anish Majumdar is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and founder of http://resumeorbit.com/. 98% of clients report a significant increase in interviews within 30 days and all work comes backed by a 110% Satisfaction or Money Back Guarantee. Submit your resume for a free critique at http://resumeorbit.com/free_critique.php today!

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What Are The Rules for Resume Length?

"How long should your resume be?"

Our lives are governed by rules. Traffic rules, workplace policies, household no-no's. Many serve a good purpose; others don't.

Such is the case with arbitrary resume "rules."

One would think that an authoritative body governs resume standards and set rules as to length, acceptable categories and formatting. And the fear of breaking one of these "rules" keeps job hunters writing ineffective "Objective Statements," and sticking to other old-fashioned ideas that no longer serve a purpose.

The question of the ideal resume's length, for example, continues to confuse. From bloated seven page resumes to skimpy one pagers, recruiters have seen them all. Ideally, a resume should be as long as it needs to be to demonstrate precisely what you have done in past positions that is relevant to the position to which you are applying. And although some senior executives could justify a seven page resume-most of which could be seen as addendums of training, presentations, authored papers, and committee and board-work-most of us can rarely justify anything beyond two pages.

Here's how to do it:

Concentrate on the top part of page one
Research shows that when inundated with too many resumes and too little time, the recruiter spends perhaps 15 seconds on each resume with the goal of eliminating as many as possible. The reviewer's eyes reliably rest on the top part of page one when conducting this highly competitive purge. Replacing the Objective Statement with a succinct and strategic profile will immediately "sell" the reader on your candidacy.

Avoid repetition with key words and phrases

If you have held three positions, all quite similar, do not repeat identical accountabilities under each position. You are not aiming at recreating your position descriptions in the resume.

To reduce repetition, create a section of your hard skills and competencies. An operational manager might cite "standardized processes," "multi-site management," "cross-training"; a sales professional might state "account development," "solution-based selling," and "exceeding sales goals." Eliminating repetitious text allows you to concentrate on the resume's strong backbone: results and achievements.

Focus on expertise and achievements

Rather than overdoing the general accountabilities of your past employs, focus in on how you applied the skills necessary in the role to improve each employer's bottom line.

Adding specific information that goes beyond that position description list of bullets, and showing how your hire would potentially benefit the employer reliably holds your reader's interest.

Don't date yourself

These days, resumes only go back 10-15 years; anything beyond that is likely outdated in technology or approach. Eliminating a reference to how you could troubleshoot typewriters or of having worked with mainframes that occupied entire floors, frees up valuable resume real estate for more relevant, recent work.

Distinguish yourself from other candidates with the quality of information rather than the length of your resume.

Award-winning and published professional resume writer, Stephanie Clark, is owner of New Leaf Resumes, a full-time resume writing and interview coaching service. Published in several American and Canadian career publications, Stephanie also writes a weekly career article for a local daily paper.

Recently invited to contribute as an Invited Expert Blogger, you can follow Stephanie's interview blog at http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com/blog.

Sign up for Stephanie's monthly newsletter and order her E-books through her website, at http://www.newleafresumes.com/, or by calling toll free (North America-wide) 1-855-550-5627.

Read more ...

What Are The Rules for Resume Length?

"How long should your resume be?"

Our lives are governed by rules. Traffic rules, workplace policies, household no-no's. Many serve a good purpose; others don't.

Such is the case with arbitrary resume "rules."

One would think that an authoritative body governs resume standards and set rules as to length, acceptable categories and formatting. And the fear of breaking one of these "rules" keeps job hunters writing ineffective "Objective Statements," and sticking to other old-fashioned ideas that no longer serve a purpose.

The question of the ideal resume's length, for example, continues to confuse. From bloated seven page resumes to skimpy one pagers, recruiters have seen them all. Ideally, a resume should be as long as it needs to be to demonstrate precisely what you have done in past positions that is relevant to the position to which you are applying. And although some senior executives could justify a seven page resume-most of which could be seen as addendums of training, presentations, authored papers, and committee and board-work-most of us can rarely justify anything beyond two pages.

Here's how to do it:

Concentrate on the top part of page one
Research shows that when inundated with too many resumes and too little time, the recruiter spends perhaps 15 seconds on each resume with the goal of eliminating as many as possible. The reviewer's eyes reliably rest on the top part of page one when conducting this highly competitive purge. Replacing the Objective Statement with a succinct and strategic profile will immediately "sell" the reader on your candidacy.

Avoid repetition with key words and phrases

If you have held three positions, all quite similar, do not repeat identical accountabilities under each position. You are not aiming at recreating your position descriptions in the resume.

To reduce repetition, create a section of your hard skills and competencies. An operational manager might cite "standardized processes," "multi-site management," "cross-training"; a sales professional might state "account development," "solution-based selling," and "exceeding sales goals." Eliminating repetitious text allows you to concentrate on the resume's strong backbone: results and achievements.

Focus on expertise and achievements

Rather than overdoing the general accountabilities of your past employs, focus in on how you applied the skills necessary in the role to improve each employer's bottom line.

Adding specific information that goes beyond that position description list of bullets, and showing how your hire would potentially benefit the employer reliably holds your reader's interest.

Don't date yourself

These days, resumes only go back 10-15 years; anything beyond that is likely outdated in technology or approach. Eliminating a reference to how you could troubleshoot typewriters or of having worked with mainframes that occupied entire floors, frees up valuable resume real estate for more relevant, recent work.

Distinguish yourself from other candidates with the quality of information rather than the length of your resume.

Award-winning and published professional resume writer, Stephanie Clark, is owner of New Leaf Resumes, a full-time resume writing and interview coaching service. Published in several American and Canadian career publications, Stephanie also writes a weekly career article for a local daily paper.

Recently invited to contribute as an Invited Expert Blogger, you can follow Stephanie's interview blog at http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com/blog.

Sign up for Stephanie's monthly newsletter and order her E-books through her website, at http://www.newleafresumes.com/, or by calling toll free (North America-wide) 1-855-550-5627.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Clark

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