Resume writing is an important skill for any person to have. Without it, their employment opportunities are very narrow.
One of the most contested issues is the length of resumes, with many claiming that a single page is enough.
Recruiters, hiring managers, and resume writers believe this to be true. But there are cases when two and three-page applications can work.
One-Page Resumes
Recruiters love single-page applications as they contain all the necessary information.
Hiring managers can take one look at them to find the right candidates. They are easier to make for job seekers themselves.
This format is often used in several scenarios.
Starting a Career
People at the start of their careers generally follow a one-page format.
They can be recent graduates or people looking for their first job.
If you can’t decide which information to include, go here for professional help.
Short resumes are a good choice for people with several years of experience.
A key feature among these groups is their lack of job experience.
There’s not much data to put on a resume.
Yet, it doesn’t mean that education and contact information should be the only things you should mention.
Students often engage in internships or part-time jobs.
Ideally, these experiences have to relate to your field of work.
For example, suppose someone graduated with a BA in programming.
There’s a great chance that they collaborated on projects with other developers.
This sort of information is relevant and can be listed on the resume.
Provide a link to a GitHub profile with several examples of your contributions.
It will give hiring agents a better picture.
As your job experience grows, remove internships, part-time, and entry-level jobs.
Staying at the Same Job for a While
Fitting a resume on a single page is good for people working in the same role.
Job seekers who have enough experience but worked only for a couple of companies can also use it.
People working the same job for several years don’t have much to put in terms of work experience.
But they can focus on key accomplishments.
Changing Careers
It’s not uncommon for people to change careers later in life.
You can start out as a manager to find out that working as a designer suits you better.
A one-page resume will be enough as a person enters a completely different field.
They don’t have to list all accomplishments, as most will be irrelevant to the desired position.
It’s important to focus on experiences and skills that relate to your new career.
This will make the resume look solid and will increase the chance of finding a job.
So, be careful not to mention the aspects of your previous employment that might confuse recruiters.
They will discard your application if it contains no relevant data.
Two-Page Resumes
This format is perfect for giving a more detailed look at your accomplishments.
It adds better depth and context to the document.
People with over eight years of experience and volunteer work will benefit from this format the most.
For example, let’s take a look at a senior developer looking for employment.
They have:
· an MA in computer programming;
· 5 years of experience as a backend developer;
· 10 years of experience as a frontend developer;
· 3 years of volunteer work in coding camps.
Each of these positions is relevant to the current job search.
There’s no way to list all skills and experiences on a single page.
But it doesn’t mean that applicants must mention every achievement they had.
Professionals recommend tailoring resumes for each role.
Concentrate on the elements that match those present in a particular job description.
When making a two-page resume, exclude full-time jobs unrelated to the current application.
Additionally, avoid listing temporary positions or part-time jobs you had during college.
If there are gaps between jobs, change the header to “Relevant Work Experience.”
Recruiters will appreciate your honesty and conciseness.
Three-Page Resumes
Unlike previous cases, three-page resumes aren’t that widespread.
They are mostly used by senior-level executives, government employees, and academics.
As you can guess, it’s a perfect choice for people with extensive experience, education, and skills.
People can list their achievements, patents, publications, and licenses.
Even in this case, using a two-page format is more favorable.
Remember that managers don’t have time to read through lengthy applications.
It’s better to list them on a personal website, LinkedIn profile, or online portfolio.
Conclusion
The resume length should be based on experience and profession.
In most cases, you’ll find that a one-page resume works just fine.
It’s a perfect way of making an impression on recruiters.
Yet, bigger formats may come in handy as you move forward with your career.
