Resumes, one or two pages ?

[*Tina*]

I keep hearing a variety of different answers.

I know many of you work in positions where going over resumes is a necessary evil, so I come to you for assistance.

I'm finishing my resume and I want to know whether I should keep it to one page or if making a second page is acceptable.

 

[two wheel tramp]

One page, please!

 

[Rambeezi]

Yes one page please. Two if you use a cover letter.

 

[Traq]

I think "they" say it really depends on the position and previous work experience.

If it's a grunt level job or your experience is with grunt level jobs...one page.
If you're talking a professional career with professional experience, don't limit yourself to some arbitrary page number.

 

[*Tina*]

Yes one page please. Two if you use a cover letter.

That's what I've been told and have been doing for quite some time, but for some reason friends have been saying a two page resume is completely acceptable of late and its left me all sorts of confuzzled.

 

[Joebar4000]

I think "they" say it really depends on the position and previous work experience.

If it's a grunt level job or your experience is with grunt level jobs...one page.
If you're talking a professional career with professional experience, don't limit yourself to some arbitrary page number.

This. I *cannot* fit my previous work experience onto one page, therefore it has to go to two to fit my overall skills/education too.

At an average of 2 years per position, with 3-4 bullet points, unless you really cram it in... it won't fit.

Better to have 2 pages of well-spaced, clearly laid out, than 1 page of cramped and over-edited.

Put it another way, I've only ever got to interview with a 2-pager.

 

[revnort]

I've had success with a one pager. I tailor resumes to the position I am applying and I leave out work experience I don't want to highlight for that particular job. You can talk about other stuff in the interview.

I use PDF however and do non-traditional layouts though so I can space/organize things how I like which makes that easier.

Also, I have more information/portfolio and a longer form resume available at a web address the resume mentions. That way they get the summary and they feel they need more I tell them where to find it.

 

[theAmazingKickstand]

I haven't been working for very long and I'm already at 2 pages. Can't fit all my mad skillz and history on one page. I was worried like you once but this one page nonsense started 60 yrs ago when people worked at IBM for forty years till they died. In finance and tech no one limits to 1 page. If I really tried I could taylor it to one page for a specific job but I usually blast out 20-60 resumes at a time so I don't have the desire to do that. Once or twice for a job I really super wanted.

 

[msincredible]

Mine is 3 pages but it includes a publication list and patent filings. The first 2 pages are work/educational experience. Mine is bordering on a CV, however.

I think it really depends on your background and the position.

 

[carries an axe]

I think it really depends what type of job you're going for. Keep information relative to the position you're going for . Nothings worse than having to wade through someone's life's history on a resume.

 

[gameboi]

like a few have suggested, only keep what is relevant to job on the resume; the other stuff you can leave out and bring up in the interview if you land it; unless you have two pages of experience/job history for that specific job you are applying for then keep it at two pages

Im not a HR or anything but i get resumes passed to me at work from time to time and usually i just skim through it, if the first page doesn't interest me, i dont bother going to the second page.

 

[Ironbutt]

Only one page..

 

[HellFyre]

It depends on the job for which you're applying.

In my area (software engineering), 2 pages minimum. And I'm commenting as both an applicant as well as the hiring manager. These days few applicants only have one page and it's clear they're missing information.

Furthermore, I want to know your whole work and education history, even if it isn't relevant to this position. Typically, every position you've held has had some influence on you as a whole and that's important to me.

 

[Jakemate]

One page... :rofl

There. Is. No. Way. It. Will. Fit....

 

[Cheeky_Dragon]

Depends how much experience you have but as someone who reads dozens of resumes a week I would suggest at least two pages and don't underestimate the covering letter. That's an opportunity to show that you at least did a little research on the company and can speak to the points the hiring manager is looking for.

 

[Joebar4000]

I think of more importance than 1 or 2 pages, is, make the opening paragraph stellar and tailored to the position.

Most people look at a Resume for 10 seconds before it goes in the 'keep' or 'ditch' pile - that ain't long enough to skim even 1 page.

Grab 'em with the opening lines and with experience headings.

 

[jh2586]

I used to be a manager at a Firestone store. I'd get anywhere from 10-20 applications per day. At the end of the week, I'd look over the applications if i had a vacant slot open in my shop. Often times I'd have a stack of 50-100 resume's. The main aspect that I look for in a resume is clarity, format and organization.

If the resume looks cluttered and is not clear and concise.. then I won't even look at their qualifications. But if it looks presentable and professional then I will read it. When reading it, if it's too long and I have to read a novel about you, then I will quickly lose interest and discard. The one's that win an interview are the one's who have important highlights that I would find interesting and something I'd find that would benefit the company.

ALWAYS tailor a resume for the job you're applying for. I can EASILY tell when a resume is generic and you've made 100 copies to just throw around to places. If anyone would like a sample resume of mine, PM me and I'll be glad to show you.

 

[Blankpage]

I've worked different industries for different companies in different countries.
I just had to rewrite my resume a few weeks ago for a project the company is bidding on. There is no problem making all that shit fit one page.
Just trim the bs.

 

[Joebar4000]

I can EASILY tell when a resume is generic and you've made 100 copies to just throw around to places.

Especially if you send it to >70 games companies in the area, all in the same email, and CC them all instead of BCC... true story.

The poor kid got so much flak. :rofl

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Depends. If you have a lot of important stuff to say, 2 pages. If you can fit it easily onto 1, then 1 page. I make several different versions.