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Posted by: Lindee Levicke
I have created a one page resume and a two page resume. Depending on the tone of the job posting and the information they require, I decide which version I want to send out. Most places these days ask for "NO PHONE CALLS" so I don't want to be calling HR departments. I always send a customized cover letter of 3-4 paragraphs tops.
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Posted by: Mike M.
I've got 20+ years in sales and marketing in a variety of industries. I could easily do 3+ pages but I DON'T DARE. Use multiple resumes highlighting your talents for THE JOB posting and get rid of the unnecessary fluff. USE WHAT IS PERTINENT! The sad truth is if you are receiving hundreds/thousands of responses (I was a Sr. VP at a personnel agency in NYC) you don't have the time to read past two pages. It is a resume, not a biography.
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Posted by: R. Jen
The problem with all the things everyone is listing for these multi-page resumes is this: put what applies to the job you are going for! If you have all these other qualifications, unless they are involved in the job you are applying for, leave them out. Those qualifications and achievements are good for interview talking pieces, but in a resume, if you add all things unrelated to the job at hand it seems like you are trying to pat yourself on the back. Spearhead for the job qualifications and hammer home what you have on them. Leave the rest for the interview. Jeez. As for 20+ years experience, or even ten, that's a single line. Unless you're listing dozens of employers on those years (in which case, does that really show dedication to a position/company?), I fail to see how this prompts a 2nd page if you stay on target.
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Posted by: Antoinette Ester
If you have had a variety of jobs, or changed careers, you should not include everything in one resume. Create a resume specifically for the job for which you are applying. Include your experience and education related to that field only. I have 4 resumes for two fields: a one page and a longer one for each field. This way, my resume appears focused, and I have a choice of length, depending on the particular employer's desires. Also, you'd be surprised how much information you can fit - neatly - onto one page if you cull unnecessary info and consider your formatting. And, seriously, I have seen so many BAD resumes...learn how to do it right, and make it PERFECT.
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Posted by: Sharon Shields
As a resume consultant for 15 years, I always strived to create one page resumes for my clients. I would often include at the bottom of the page a brief summary, such as "prior to the above, worked in the retail and hospitality industries." If the hiring manager is interested in more information, they will ask.
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Posted by: Linda Dooley
What if you have worked in the gaming industry and had 6 different jobs in a 5 year time frame. How would you put on a resume or application (various jobs) that supervisors no longer work there.
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Posted by: Executive Director
I have over 20 years of experience and keep my resume down to two pages. I've had to hire for a number of positions and usually will not spend the time to read a 5 page resume unless the shorter ones don't produce much. I've seen people put a whole lot of time and effort into building huge elaborate resumes; that only tells me that they've been out of work for a while and have quite a bit of free time on their hands. A resume is a flirtation, you put out enough to get their attention and hopefully get a date out of it. If you overdo it you seem either overanxious or full of yourself. Keep it to two pages.
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Posted by: mary krempel
What do you mean ridiculous? Are you one of those who pigeonhole people instead of looking at individuals? If 1 page looks like shorthand and doesn't list all your potential, go 2. Take the rest of the info to the interview. At first, you're just trying to hook the fish.
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Posted by: Gordon Luce
I used to think I needed 2 pages and even that was cramped. The truth is, what you did 20 years ago is no longer relevant. The resume should not be your sale, that's the interview. The resume should be a tease; it should leave them wanting more.
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Posted by: Charles Stinson
The purpose of the resume is not to get you the job; but, to get you the oral interview. I have 30 years of experience and when asking for a raise I submit 7 or 8 pages of company specific accompllishments. When looking for an interview 2 pages are plenty. The summary preceding the experience should sell the interview for you.
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Posted by: Shirley
I agree with the person who said to shorten your resume short changes yourself. If it is not defined in the ad that it is a entry level position, why would you. You will get what you recruit for. A person with many years in the work force and one position would also have a short resume and I would not consider them very experienced as they would not have been exposed to as much. Mine is 3 pages and gets me interviews in my field. IF not, then they don't want someone with my experience and would not pay for it either. Anything longer is usually called a CV. A CV has everything you have done and is usually requested in Professional positions. You don't see a lot of requests for them as people are already too lazy to read 2 and 3 pages.
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Posted by: Misty
I have been in the administrative field for almost 15 years. Most of my experience has been with a temporary agency, and the longest temp job has only run about 5 months, with several of them only running about 2-3 weeks. I have had a few "permanent" jobs, but seem to be one of the lucky ones who always gets caught up in a layoff. How in the world would I fit all of that into one or two pages?
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Posted by: Paul McGowan
Perhaps a change in description is necessary. Perhaps an experienced professional should present a "portfolio" as would say an artist? Then the expectation of the recipient would be a multi page document.
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Posted by: Joe D.
Lets be honest a resume is totally useless in this economy. Hiring is 99.44% based on who you know not what you know.
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Posted by: Steph
I'm a recruiter and I dont care how long your resume is, as long as every word is well thought out and needed to tell your story. I would rather read more than less.
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Posted by: P Morris
Think of your resume as an ad or proposal with an executive summary if you have a lot to include. The first 1/2 of the page should jump at the reader with a summary and references to the following pages. This allows the recruiter to quickly get the main selling point of your past accomplishments and they have the option to read more if they are interested.
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Posted by: Cheryl Boyd
I have over 10 years experience in human resources and project management. I have a 1 pager for simple HR positions, and 2 pager for a more detailed position. On my PM resumes I think companies what to see more detail on your ability to neet the requirements for the position advertised.
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Posted by: Barbara J.
Thank you , your information and comments are helpful.
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Posted by: B Oslander
I think putting more than 20 years of experience down is a risk, many employers do not want to hire workers over 50. Hopefully a good, concise resume will get you in the door and the interviewer will want to know more. Should you put dates on your resume? Or just "8 years", etc.?
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Posted by: Andrew
Reference Karoneous' inpout:You might want to reduce font size from 12 pt (if that is what you are using) to 11 pt. Also, extend margins in all directions slightly. It still gives you plenty of white space and might eliminate those 6 extra lines. Go through your resume and eliminate any small words, resume does not have to write like a novel. Just a thought.
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Posted by: Leora Stratton
Everyone is forgetting something -Some HR depts use software programs to screen hundreds of resumes first, key words that are necessary. Anyone have info on this? How best to get a resume through the program? I am tired of being weeded out.
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Posted by: Fiby Francis
The ideas mentioned are great. When applying for a position try to make sure that you fulfil the required criteria. If you are sure, then tailor the same according to the position you are applying to. As mentioned by David, a summary of your profile in the first page will definitely get the required attention from HR. Good Luck and God Bless.
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Posted by: Jessie Givens
I have found that I have enough for a full 2 page resume with all of the experience that I have, military experience, education, and organizations. Everyone seems to have a different opinion about resumes and no one can provide accurate information.
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Posted by: D. Cavall
What if you want to get back into a position you had 5+ years prior. For example I was an accountant, now a systems analyst and want to get back into accounting. Do you still show the most recent job first? In my case my recent job fills up the first page and the recruiter will think I applied for the wrong job.
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Posted by: Antonina Bering
I find this information very enlightening and pedagogically sound. A page resume can give a comprehensive perspective of the total achievement of a person.
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Posted by: Shawn Contreras
Although, I can understand the conservation of time HR is attempting to manage, 1 page seems ridiculous! A 2 page resume seems perfectly acceptable and should be equally acknowledged by HR. This allows you to provide career, educational, and computer experience which should equate to enough thoroughness to get "in the door" and elaborate. Anything less than 2 pages-should be for those with less than 7 years experience since the employee/employer relationship only averages 4-5 years nowadays. Of course, compentent HR/Recruiters/Hiring Managers should always ask the question: (and they should be note taking the answers) "Do you have experiences not reflected on your resume that would be relevant to this position and why?". This is imperative if the expectation of a 1-2 page resume is adhered to. When hiring people, I ALWAYS ask this question as it gives you an opportunity to "listen" as to the thought process of the candidate!
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Posted by: Jenn
I think this advice is completely outdated. Like the other posters, I have almost 17 years of experience. You can't eloquently cram that into one page! What are you supposed to do? Take the font size down to 7 pt. and the margins to zero?
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Posted by: Sarah
I have had my resume redone by a professional resume service. They turned my resume into a 6 page resume with all of those key words recruiters look for. Is that too long? I wonder if it is giving too much information away. Applied to over 325+ jobs and have only had 1 in-person interview and 2 phone screens.
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Posted by: Gary Donnell
This information is very helpful.
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Posted by: marilyn
I have five college degees,including a PH.D. With 20 years experience in teaching and administration my resume comprises 4 pages. Should I change the format from chronological to functional to produce a two page resume. I have had seven different jobs in 15 years.
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Posted by: jenm
I think about this both as a prospective candidate and as a prospective employer when I review other people's resumes. If you keep it too short and have been in a field more than 10 years you are going to get asked what else you have done. If its too long and you scale it down you have to choose every word carefully- make it about what you have "achieved" not what you "learned" (unless you have very specific training an employer wants) as hiring managers want to see results
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Posted by: Patricia Brakenridge
I am an administrative support professional. My outplacement counselor tweaked my resume and it is a full two pages. I was told only 10 to 12 years needs to be shown on the resume. In my last position, I was there 13 years and had an extremely diversified position. The major responsibilities are at the first level bullet and details of each are then described in the second level bullet. I hope you find this helpful.
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Posted by: Dennis Callahan
I say only 5% of any workforce is really very, very good at what they do. I know because I have had to evaluate people before. This goes for people in Human Resources also. Show your resume to 3 different people and you will get 3 completely different opinions, from people who really have no idea what you actually do. You know what and who you are better than anyone. You have one chance to say it, so do. Have confidence.
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Posted by: Frustrated
One page resumes get across the same results now a days as two pages...'you are over qualified and want to much money'. Two pages stress that point even further. Poorly written two page resumes not only tell eveyone you are over over qualified, it tells them you can not put a thought together. Keep it to one page and write it like you just joined the work force yesterday.
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Posted by: Scott Cohen
To be perfectly honest, the best thing to do is keep multiple copies of your resume, varying from 1-2 pages to 5-6 pages, depending on your qualifications and experience. I typically send my 2-page resume as somewhat of a "teaser," to get the interest of the employer, and offer a more detailed, 5-6 page resume when granted an interview. However, if a possible employer calls me and asks me for a resume, I often send both the compressed and detailed versions if asked. The longer resumes tend to scare many employers off, because they tend to think you either have too much experience, are someone they cannot afford to pay, or just have too much information to browse through in a short 20 seconds.
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Posted by: Man Nor
It all depends on the job vacancy. If the job requires an experienced worker, you should list all the experiences that are relevant to the job vacancy. If you have a lot of experiences that are relevant to the job vacancy, you should list all even if they go on to more than one pages. If a job vacancy requires specific skills, mostly likely there will be fewer qualified applicants. If the job vacancy requires an entry level, why would an experienced person apply for it anyway?
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Posted by:
Dear Ms. Davies, Your article is a sad commentary on life. A corporate America whose hiring managers mindlessly cavil about the reasonable length of a qualified candidate's resume, irretrievably gives short-shrift to seeking out their core competencies, and is destined for doom!
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Posted by: Ann C
I work in natural resources. In this field, your resume can be as long as you want, as long as it is relevant and not overly wordy. My resume is 2-3 pages long, and I am only 27, but that is because so many of the positions are seasonal, research projects, and volunteer work. Experience is also seen as more important than education, unless you have a graduate degree.
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Posted by: Pete Litster
My standard is 2 pages, which is easy to customize. I have a varied experience, and during my last spate of unemployment I created a simple customizable template that could allow me to cast wider net. My cover letter is never over one page. It's written in a less formal, but collegial tone and directly states the relevant high-lights in a concise 3-5 bulleted list. It ends with a brief, but true, one-line statement expressing my honest gratitude for their work. Interestingly enough, after close to 60 job apps with resumes (and more without) over 3 months, and every variety of interactions with recipient employers, I posted my resume to my Facebook page, and was soon offered the best job I could possibly hope for in my field, even the best I've ever had, by an old rabble-rousing college buddy from years ago. Seriously. Perfect, mutually beneficial employment match, from facebook. Bottom-line for me: 2-page resume, one page cover letter, which is concisely, though personally formulated for max interest. Put it out on facebook, and see what the people you actually know, and who actually care about their friends, have available in terms of work. In my experience, people who could use you will see that on facebook and come to you. The over-all personality inventory you get from facebook is pretty useful too, of course. When I think about it, I'm almost stunned about how well it worked for me, and the potential I see in it for making truly productive, progressive employment matches. Something interesting about social media.
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Posted by: R. Mandl
Best advice is to KNOW YOUR FIELD. The HR pros for Cadd/Electronic/Electrical Look at the 1st page but IF you have 10+ years experience and strong education through out 20+ years of work THEY WANT TO KNOW what you have done! I have done HR and the first page gets my attention, the "suport pages" sell me. Continued education is always a plus.
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Posted by: pravin patil
This is nice information. Everyone should know this information.
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Posted by: Timothy Bryant
I have been critiqued to a long resume in past and found that by displaying two pages would gain better results. True though that if you have one position, 10 years or more, one page would suffice. take into consideration that certificates /degree's, community services, etc , add to the resume, so keep those in it, as it shows value.
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Posted by: Abu Ahsan
I have five academic degree (two Master's) with fourteen years of work experience. Two page seems to me insufficient to express all qualifications I achieved. Can I extend to three pages.
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Posted by: Michael Conlin
ok, so what is it, 1 or 2 pages? or 5 pages? the question wasn't answered!
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Posted by: Cherryl Ward
How many years of information does a potential employer want to see. If you've been on a job for 20 years would that one position be enough experience to list on a resume or should you continue to previous jobs?
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Posted by: Mike
Hint to the wise!If you are that concerned about the length of your Resume, and you know where you are submitting it to, by all means, contact the HR department and inquire what they prefer when they view Resumes. (Get the insiders hint)If it is just a bulk or generic submission on a Jobsite Board, confined and precise is definitely a better bet.While expertise is important in all walks of life, the individuals reading them don't have time to read novels (5 or 6 pages).Create a concise version with the types of Certificates, Degrees, Training, (short and to the point).Then make note on it (For all to see) that additional information will be provided upon request. If the Hiring personnel or Recruiters find your highlights intriguing and are genuinely interested they will definitely ask for more.Don't be discouraged if your 5 or 6 page Resume is over kill. View it as a neutral party, looking for a specific skill set, and decide if your additional entries are actually required.Remember, what one hiring person sees and wants, "IS NOT" what the other one might want.
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Posted by: David Pfluger
If you have decades of varietal experience, don't sell yourself short. 3 to 6 pages is often necessary, however, given most reviewers tendencies to only scan the first page, it is a good idea to have an introductory "sales" paragraph with the general skills and abilities. Do it like a Thesis paper, Intro-then the body to back up the assertion.
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Posted by: tomk
To what degree and how often should you call the employor to see if they have made any decision on when, or if they are going to fill an open position that you have applied for? If the position is still open, should you send them related information pertaining to your skills, to keep them fresh in their minds? Thanks.
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Posted by: Bruce Olitzky
If a candidate has salient, documented experience and successes that would even if edited comprise two pages you'd be rather foolish to short change yourself by dumbing down your resume. Sure 20 year olds read your resume first, but no matter how many pages they see it is the quality of the Human Resource management team's objectives that matter. If they want to exclude two page resumes then they really only want folks with short job tenures and limited experience and will surely get what they recruited for, someone who probably needs more training and experience.
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Posted by: Karoneous
My resume just barely extends onto the second page, and the more I think about it, the more I feel that I should drop some of the wording to make it fit onto one page. It just doesn't look right or professional to have only six lines of text on the second page, and it wastes paper when it gets printed out!
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Posted by: Rebecca Eaton
In my case, I have experience in several fields; I am really struggling on what to put in it. Thanks for the comments. I think a two-page resume is appropriate.
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Posted by: Shardena
More than one page resume is ridiculous. A human resource person looks at it and passes it up, because it is too much information. They want to be able to look at it quickly and summarize your experience. More than one page and 10 years of experience is unecessary.
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Posted by: Steve
We received 412 resumes for 2 open, degree required, nearly entry level, positions. Three managers parsed the resumes, throwing out anything that wasn't one page, standard font, black on white. Programming or Engineering positions often require very specific skill and your COBOL and Oracle 9i experience, CNE and RHCE certification, Professional Engineer training, are just filler.
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Posted by: James Laster
One Page or Two. Well my is 5 pages with the amount of knowledge and 25 years in the IT field I have a high degree of knowledge that employers are looking for . 1 or two pages resume does not promote key knowledge that I have and all the 40 Plus certifications I have along with the Masters Degree in education. I have had many professional resume companies look at my resume and have agree a 5 page resume is needed to promote my skills to the employers. What about us pros that have the 5 page resumes?
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Posted by: Charmaine Earle
The article was very informative and very helpful.I will apply some of these useful tips.
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Posted by: Dan Murphy
I think it's a sign of age... I used to ponder what to put in, now I ponder what to take out.
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Posted by: Cynthia Bergeron
Thanks for the information.
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Posted by: André Joubert
I also have extended experience and use a longer resume
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Posted by: Scott Ames
I am in the IT industry. I used to use a two page resume until I kept hearing "If you have so much experience, why is your resume so short?" Now I have 3 and 6 page resumes.
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Posted by: Nick
Anyone who has a minimum of 3 jobs over a 15-20 year period with an education background (trade school or college) NEEDS to have a 2 page resume. And if you are like me and did a lot of community volunteering and was also in the military, than by all means a 2 page resume is exactly what you need.
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Posted by: Howie Appel
If you are just out of school, a one page resume is fine. If you have 10+ years experience, you do yourself an injustice by confining yourself to one page.
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