Vince writes:
I have a question about resumes. I am a manager with several years of experience with one company. I have been approached about a couple of interesting job opportunities that I want to explore, so I am working on my resume. I am having a hard time keeping my resume to one page and I was wondering if you could tell me whether it was ok to go to two pages. Thanks.
The Career Doctor responds:
The one-page resume rule used to be in effect, but no longer — and especially not for someone with your experience.
Better than cramming all your information on one page, go to a second page. I recently saw a resume that was written in 9-point type (very small) with almost no margins… it looked like some densely worded document (which it was) that no one would want to read.
So, revert those page margins back to standard levels, and push that type size back up to normal viewing (typically 10-12 pt.), and go to a second page. Just remember two rules about doing so. First, make sure you have a header on the second page that identifies that is your resume (Vince Smith, p. 2) and make sure that you use at least half of the second page.
In fact, some resume experts now say that a resume should be as long as necessary, and the more senior a job-seeker, the longer the resume.
Other resume tips:
- If you are a seasoned job-seeker, remember that you should really not include work experience older than 12-15 years. While the experience is valuable, the process to do the work has probably changed dramatically in that time.
- You do not need to include every single work experience you’ve ever had; instead, showcase the experiences that best showcase the skills/accomplishments for the job you are seeking.
- Always focus on accomplishments and how you contributed to the employer rather than on your duties and responsibilities. And quantify those accomplishments whenever possible.
- If you’re a new college grad, a two-page resume is acceptable if you have a lot of internships and other work experience, although I still prefer to see most new grads with a one-page resume.
You can find lots more suggestions, tools, and helpful advice about resume preparation in this section of Quintessential Careers: Resume and CV Resources.
