I know there’s a lot of debate out there, and much of it sounds extremely authoritative. But is it right? Who can you trust?
As is so often the case, there isn’t actually a definitive answer to this question. Yes, there are many one-pagers who are apparently willing to die on that hill. But there are also lots of people who believe adamantly in 2-page resumes, and let’s not forget the federal government types, who can’t figure out why anyone is talking about this—federal resumes are just as long as they need to be to cover your experience. (I’m not even touching fields like medicine or academia, which require such long CVs that I’ve known people to break them into chapters.)
So here’s how you can decide on how long yours should be.
First, look at the criteria for the kinds of roles you want next. Are they robust or straightforward? Can you simply capture the requirements in the body of your experience or do you need to say more to demonstrate why you’re a fit? How much to you need to back up your claims with things like certifications and examples?
Next, think through how much relevant experience you have, being clear that “relevant” doesn’t necessarily mean obviously so. For instance, you may have done all the things you want to show a prospective employer but not have had the title they’re hiring for.
Having a clear sense of those two things will help you get a sense of things. If you look around online, you’ll see that the typical advice is that if you have 10-15 years of experience in your chosen field, that’s when you go for 2 pages. That’s certainly true, but there are also times you can demonstrate that the things you’ve accomplished really are in line with what someone is hiring for, so even your 4 years of experience could wind up requiring 2 pages.
Some of this also has to do with your preferences, as well. If you feel your single-page document is cramped and it doesn’t tell your story well, feel free to expand! (Be sure to fill up most of the second page if you wind up with 2 pages, though.) If the idea of a double-pager keeps you up at night, whittle that sucker down to one.
In other words, there really isn’t a definitive ideal length for your resume, despite the very strong advice you’ll get from some folks. (They often back this up with credentials, too, like “I’m a hiring manager, and…” But that doesn’t mean they speak for all hiring managers!) I love a longer resume with a nice initial summary or highlights section, but I’m not so arrogant as to tell you that’s the only appropriate way to approach the document. Your resume, after all, represents you when you’re not in the room, so it really comes down to you and what you want to say in order to leave a lasting impression.
