How Long Should A Resume Be?

You’ve likely heard that your resume should ideally be one page long. While this is generally sound advice, there are exceptions to consider based on your career stage and the industry you’re in.

In this article, we’ll explore the optimal length of a resume, how to determine the appropriate length for your circumstances, and effective strategies to make your resume as concise as possible.

Key Takeaways

• Your resume should be one page long if you have less than five years of work experience.

• For those with over five years of experience, a two-page resume is acceptable, especially if you possess extensive technical skills, publications, or notable achievements.

• Streamline your resume by adjusting formatting and omitting irrelevant information.

How Long Should a Resume Be?

Typically, your resume should be one page. This length is sufficient for most jobseekers to effectively present their professional history and skills to recruiters.

However, there are circumstances where a two-page (or longer) resume is appropriate. Candidates with extensive applicable work experience, numerous publications, patents, or speaking engagements may need additional space.

How to Decide How Long Your Resume Should Be

Your resume is a marketing tool designed to showcase your qualifications to potential employers. Keep it focused on your key selling points and eliminate details that do not directly support your current career objectives.

Every section of your resume should emphasize your strengths and qualifications. Hiring managers sift through countless resumes; they won’t delve deeply into yours before deciding whether to categorize it as a “maybe” or a “no.” Aim to ensure that key selling points are easily visible at a glance.

Ensure that every element of your resume is relevant to the job you’re pursuing. Avoid including unrelated experiences, such as your high school soccer team captaincy when applying for an accounting role. Tailor your resume to align closely with the job description.

Make It One Page If…

• You’re an entry-level candidate or new to the workforce. If you have less than five years of work history, one page is typically sufficient. Even if you have a variety of part-time or seasonal positions over the past five years, prioritize substantial, relevant experiences to keep your resume concise.

• You’re transitioning to a new field or industry. During a significant career change, much of your past experience may not align with the new job’s responsibilities. Focus on showcasing relevant skills and experiences while omitting less pertinent details.

• You’re seeking an internship. Internships are often targeted at those beginning their careers or entering new fields, so it’s expected that your experience will be limited. Keep your resume brief and direct when applying for internships.

• You’re a recent graduate. College graduates typically have a few part-time jobs or internships to highlight. However, without substantial work experience, your resume should remain one page to avoid unnecessary filler.

  Exceptions exist if you’re applying for graduate or research programs, in which case you may need to allocate space for relevant research, coursework, and publications, potentially extending your resume to two pages.

As a recent college graduate, eliminate references to high school, including awards and extracurricular activities. Focus instead on internships, jobs, and relevant on-campus activities.

For those with a few years of work experience seeking to change industries, it’s wise to remove college activities that no longer align with your current career path.

However, if you took a position unrelated to your degree post-graduation, it makes sense to retain relevant internships from your college experience. Remember to tailor your resume to each job application.

Make It Two Pages If…

• You possess ten or more years of relevant experience.

• Your industry necessitates technical skills, and you require additional space to detail your expertise.

• You’re a mid-level candidate (approximately five to ten years of relevant work experience), which allows for a comprehensive yet readable presentation of your work history.

The decision to opt for a one or two-page resume can be challenging and should be based on the breadth and relevance of your experience. If your resume extends onto the second page but does not fully utilize it, consider condensing it or expanding your content to fill at least one and a half pages.

Lead with a strong summary of your work experiences to ensure your key qualifications are immediately visible. Your aim is for employers to recognize your value quickly and want to retain your resume.

Limit your experience section to the past 15 years, excluding older positions, as employers are primarily interested in your recent and relevant work history.

If you held only a couple of roles beyond the 15-year mark, you can provide a brief career summary highlighting those positions without delving into details like employment dates. Here’s an example:

Should you have worked with notable organizations, this format allows you to incorporate those experiences without overwhelming your resume. Keep it concise and omit dates and locations.

Make It Three or More Pages If…

• You’re a senior-level manager or an executive.

• You have a track record of leadership roles and accomplishments.

• You work in academia or a scientific field and possess numerous publications, licenses, patents, professional courses, or speaking engagements.

When your resume reaches three pages or more, consider whether to send the complete document or just the first two pages to prospective employers.

At this level of resume length, it’s often more appropriate to utilize a curriculum vitae (CV) instead. This format allows for a detailed account of your professional journey, accommodating comprehensive content.

Keep in mind that hiring managers have limited time to review resumes. Lengthy documents may not receive the attention they deserve, so keep your resume to two pages maximum in most situations, regardless of whether you have 15 or 30 years of experience.

Making Your Resume Fit

If you’re striving to condense your information into one or two pages, several strategies can help optimize your resume layout.

• Fonts. Different fonts have varying sizes and readability. For instance, Times New Roman is generally smaller than Arial. Select a legible font and prefer basic styles such as Arial, Verdana, Calibri, or Times New Roman.

• Font size. If you’re using a 12-point font, consider reducing it to 10 or 11 points. Ensure headings remain larger than body text for clarity.

• Font styles. Bold text takes up more space than italicized text. If necessary, switch bolded words to italics to save space.

• Spacing and margins. Experiment with spacing options. Try adjusting margins to 0.5 inches for more content area, and explore single spacing instead of double spacing, ensuring readability and clarity for key details.

• White space. Maintain a balance of white space on each page, ensuring that at least three-quarters is filled with relevant content. Your resume should appear organized and easy to read.

• Eliminate unnecessary information. Consider removing sections like references or statements such as “References Available Upon Request,” as they occupy valuable space.

• Contact Information. It’s generally unnecessary to include your full street address on your resume. If you want to indicate local residency, listing your city and state suffices and enhances privacy.

Final Thoughts

While a one-page resume is ideal for many job seekers, longer resumes are increasingly acceptable when warranted.

There’s no universal standard for resume length; it largely depends on your experience, industry, education, training, number of employers, and accomplishments.

Always ensure that the information you include is relevant to the position you’re applying for. Tailoring your resume for each application is essential.

Ensure that your resume aligns with your experience. If you’ve been in the job market for five years or are a recent graduate, a lengthy resume isn’t necessary.

Now that you have the tools to create a compelling resume, craft one that stands out and showcases your skills effectively. Your next opportunity awaits!

Author

Maddie Lloyd

Maddie Lloyd was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog focused on researching tips for interview, resume, and cover letter preparation. She's currently a graduate student at North Carolina State University's department of English concentrating in Film and Media Studies.