Resume writing guide - Talking about length
In this article we answer the common question, often asked of people in the field (professional resume writing service of how lengthy a resume should be. This is an important point to keep in mind when thinking about resume writing. The reply to the question is - It depends. In most situations, we suggest that a CV should be 1 to three pages long. An one pager is completely alright, so long as it is readable and captures all your important experience/education. Two-Three pages is ok as well, in case you need more space to communicate your candidacy. More than 3 pages is generally not recommended, unless for instance, you have a lot of work experience and are a really seasoned executive. If you go on the internet you will find many resume examples, for various jobs, industries, seniority levels to guide you.
Here is what Susan Whitcomb found when researching her informative book, Resume Magic (JIST Works) - "I carried out a survey of HR managers from among the Top 100 Companies to Work for in America. One survey question requested their opinions as to the size of a resume. The results revealed that 12 percent of respondents felt CVs ought to be one-page, never longer; 67 % felt resumes must be kept to 1 or two in length; and 21 percent said as long as required to convey the applicant's qualifications.
Below are some suggestions (not rules - remember it always depends) from an informal poll of members from the Career Masters Institute and Professional Resume Writers and Research Association:
- CVs for recent grads and entry-level people are sometimes, however not always, one page
- Supplemental sheets and addenda provide an approach to provide additional info with out increasing the length of the resume itself
-No matter what the length, the resume must capture attention on the first page, ideally the first third of the first page
- No matter page your CV ends on, textual content should fill a minimum of a third to a half of the page
- Don't sacrifice your resume's legibility to make it stick to any arbitrary "guidelines" about resume length
- Page numbers, headers, and footers can aid continuity in a CV that is 2 or more pages
- For executives at the highest level (senior management, executive VP, and "C-level" jobs such as CEO, CIO, CTO, COO) even 2 pages is probably not enough; 3, four, or even more pages could also be required
About the Author
Amit Puri heads Sandbox Advisors a career, job search, recruitment & HR consulting firm in Singapore.Visit their site (Career & Job Search Insights) for research &helpful hints on cover letter examples, job interview preparation, job openings, aptitude test & more.