2023-07-14 12:35:01
With the uncertainty of the job market, having an up-to-date resume that reflects your experience has never been more critical. As you update your CV, you may be wondering what length it should be and what it should include.
The length of your resume depends on how long you’ve been working, the types of work you’ve done, and the jobs you’re applying for.
Next, we will guide you on how long your resume should be based on different criteria. That includes your range of experience and how long you’ve been working.
How long should a resume be?
There is no hard and fast rule about the length of a resume. However, there is a helpful guide based on your work experience. The more concise, the better. If you have 0-5 years of experience, having a one page resume is the best option.
These rules vary as your career progresses. The length changes based on how much information you need to include for the roles you apply for. A recent graduate’s resume will look different than someone who has been working for more than 20 years.
Let’s take a look at how resume length can vary due to the roles you’re applying for:
For entry level roles
When you’re just starting out in your career, putting together a resume can be a daunting task. You may be asking yourself a lot of questions about what to include and how long your resume should be.
When submitting your resume for entry-level positions, the length of your resume correlates to the number of years of experience you have. A page should work fine if you have less than five years of experience.
Even if you have multiple jobs or have worked at different companies, you should consolidate your experience on one page. You can eliminate internships or irrelevant summer jobs.
Instead, focus on the roles with the most relevant experience and your full-time professional roles.
For mid-level roles
Mid-level roles are tricky, depending on how experienced you are. With more than 8 years of experience, you can choose to have a resume of more than one page, which better explains your roles and responsibilities.
However, many hiring managers prefer to see your qualifications on a single page. You can eliminate irrelevant experiences from the early years of your career. You can also list these roles with limited bullet points related to your responsibilities.
This leaves you more space to focus on your most relevant roles.
Being selective with the information you include will show your career path while you focus on the highlights of your career.
for senior roles
As the seniority of the positions you are applying for increases, you can increase the length of your resume. For senior leadership roles, you can go for two or three pages.
You may need this extra space to talk about your previous manager or your leadership roles.
Recruiters are likely to ignore anything longer than three pages. Even with extra space, you need to focus on the highlights of your run. Include metrics related to your achievements that you can expand on in interviews.
Beyond eight years of experience, you are likely aiming for a leadership position. In this stage, zippy suggests focusing on your last 10 to 15 years of leadership experience.
For academic roles
Academic resumes differ from traditional resumes. They include information about your studies, courses, and your publications in peer-reviewed journals.
For academic roles, your resume should be longer than two pages to include all of your licenses, patents, or publications. Your academic resume may be up to 15 pages long to reflect the work you’ve been doing.
Here, you have more freedom with the extension and you can use your best judgment when compiling your resume.
Best Practices for Resume Length
Whether you need to add more information or reduce what you already have, it’s good to take a critical look at your resume. Here are some resume length best practices to guide you in your review process:
Include only the most relevant information
To reduce the length of your resume, use these questions as a good framework:
Are all the bullet points on your resume relevant to the job description? Do you excessively exaggerate any of the functions of your job in your summary paragraphs? Is there any redundant information on your resume? Can you remove the bullet points and add this information to the cover letter? Can you remove some bullet points and discuss some of your interview experience?
Be aware of the blank spaces
When considering resume length, make sure you strike the right balance in format. You should keep margins on your resume, but they can be thin. Avoid double spacing and consider using a compact font.
You can even make your font smaller, as long as it’s legible.
You should squeeze all of your information into as many spaces as possible. However, be sure to keep things legible and easy on the eye.
Hiring managers are estimated to spend only 7 seconds looking at resumes So don’t overload it with information and keep the information relevant.
Make sure there is enough space for the words to stand out and speak for themselves. Don’t clutter the information; the hiring manager may discard your resume.
Tailor your resume to the position you are applying for
Tailoring your resume is a good rule of thumb when applying for jobs. Reaching the right length for your resume requires only relevant information and experience. Consider the information you are including.
Be sure to only include relevant roles and descriptions on your resume.
This requires some extra work, but once you’ve defined what’s essential for the job you’re applying for, you can carefully tailor your resume.
You’ll know which skills or traits to highlight, which keywords to use, and which parts of your experience will be most interesting to the hiring manager.
Whether you’re reviewing an existing resume or starting from scratch, use these best practices to be your best.
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