How long should a resumé be?
Posted by Natalie Joan on Monday, January 19, 2009
Under: Resumé Tips
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Aside from spelling and grammar errors, the most common and annoying mistake people make in preparing a resumé has got to be length.
While it is understandable that you want to tell a potential employer any possible detail that might make them want to hire you, you also need to be realistic about how much an individual is willing to read.
I have received more than 100 resumés to fill short term, low paying jobs. Jobs with permanence and higher salaries attract even more interest. Fair or not, no one can read 100 resumés in the amount of time we usually have to devote to hiring a new employee.
Most resumés are scanned and rated before being fully read. This is why job titles, bulleted skills lists and objective or highlights sections are so important. Employers need to see your qualifications at a glance. If they have to look for them, there’s a good chance things will be missed. Don’t bury important details on page three. If you can avoid it, don’t have a page three at all.
Somewhere long the line, without ever intending to, I stopped reading resumés that were more than two pages long. I typically hire for positions where writing skills are important, and the first test for me is how clearly and concisely you can present yourself in a resumé. If it takes you three pages to tell me about four jobs and your educational background, you aren’t being concise.
Occasionally someone else on the hiring committee would read a resumé I discarded and convince me to interview the candidate after all. I’ve even hired some of them. However, had it been up to me alone they would never have been interviewed. Hence, why hiring teams or committees are important.
Is that fair? I honestly don’t know. It’s my bias. Everyone has one. I’ve let go of the occasional misspelled word, and know others who won’t.
Of course, there are situations where these rules would not apply. If you are asked for a detailed CV, by all means list every job, publication, volunteer opportunity and university course that may be relevant. But unless you are specifically asked for detail, please be brief.
While it is understandable that you want to tell a potential employer any possible detail that might make them want to hire you, you also need to be realistic about how much an individual is willing to read.
I have received more than 100 resumés to fill short term, low paying jobs. Jobs with permanence and higher salaries attract even more interest. Fair or not, no one can read 100 resumés in the amount of time we usually have to devote to hiring a new employee.
Most resumés are scanned and rated before being fully read. This is why job titles, bulleted skills lists and objective or highlights sections are so important. Employers need to see your qualifications at a glance. If they have to look for them, there’s a good chance things will be missed. Don’t bury important details on page three. If you can avoid it, don’t have a page three at all.
Somewhere long the line, without ever intending to, I stopped reading resumés that were more than two pages long. I typically hire for positions where writing skills are important, and the first test for me is how clearly and concisely you can present yourself in a resumé. If it takes you three pages to tell me about four jobs and your educational background, you aren’t being concise.
Occasionally someone else on the hiring committee would read a resumé I discarded and convince me to interview the candidate after all. I’ve even hired some of them. However, had it been up to me alone they would never have been interviewed. Hence, why hiring teams or committees are important.
Is that fair? I honestly don’t know. It’s my bias. Everyone has one. I’ve let go of the occasional misspelled word, and know others who won’t.
Of course, there are situations where these rules would not apply. If you are asked for a detailed CV, by all means list every job, publication, volunteer opportunity and university course that may be relevant. But unless you are specifically asked for detail, please be brief.
In : Resumé Tips
Tags: length detail "resume screening" cv
I am a writer, editor and adult education professional living in Halifax NS. I write and edit resumés, and offer workshops on resumé writing, job hunting, and interviewing. This blog is a place for me to post my favourite resumé tips, answer common questions, and occasionally rant about my pet peeves.
