How Long Should a Resume Be?

Writing a resume is not really an art but you must possess some basic writing skills to draft a neat, professional and organized resume. Many people get confused when it comes to resume writing. Some of the common questions asked by such people are - how long should a resume be?, what font size should a resume be?, should a resume be one page?, and how detailed should a resume be?, etc. There is no one answer to all these questions. The length of the resume is subjective to your achievements, expertise, previous experience, knowledge and be careful about the key skills to put on a resume, etc. So there is no strict rule that specifies how long should a resume be. But one must try to draft a precise resume by using short and apt words.

Ideal Resume Length

Less is more, stands true when it comes to resume. A crisp resume is most likely to get a quick attention and hence has a higher chance of getting short listed. So, conventionally, people believed that a resume should not exceed one page but it is not feasible for people who have something more to include which is important to get a job. At such situations it is completely alright to have a little lengthy resume provided you have made it interesting for the reader. The golden rule to draft a tight resume is to include the essentials only. Given below are some of the things that every resume should include:

• Your Name
• Address
• Contact Details
• Objectives
• Qualifications
• Achievements
• Work Experience
• Key Skills

The above things form the main content of the resume on which your selection for the job depends. Hence, instead of speculating how long should a resume be, putting the above things using the right language and proper resume format is important. Apart from this you must also know what not to put on a resume to make it worth more than just a glance.

Tips For Resume Writing

• Write a strong objective in few lines that would give out a positive impression about you and will also show your confidence.
• Avoid unnecessary superfluous language or one liners which are nothing more than fillers. For example, instead of writing paragraphs on your achievements with detailed descriptions, make bullet points.
• Consider the suitable resume styles and formats. For example, instead of writing qualifications in a line, you may put it in a table which represents the whole idea at a glance.
• Make sure that all your achievements and accomplishments are measurable and not vague. Also, the skills to list on resume should be practical and factual.
• Mention all your strengths and capacities in an assertive language without boasting about yourself.
• Ensure that the resume layout is sound. Avoid excessive margins and white space. Also pay attention to the font size of the resume. It should be readable and standard.
• If only a line or two goes on the next page then try to edit it tactfully.
• Get your facts right and provide the reader with exact factual information.
• Remember that this is the resume and not your autobiography, so cut the crap and talk business.
• Once drafted, edit the resume again and try to summarize the content without losing the meaning or essence of it.
• Read the entire resume at least twice and check if it represents you and your passion for the job.
• Lastly, make sure that there are no spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes in the resume.

The above resume writing tips would help you draft a meticulous and concise resume that would certainly reveal a disciplined professional within you. So stop worrying about how long should a resume be and focus on the contents of the resume that are responsible to fetch you the job opportunities. Now you know how to write a good resume. A good resume would make you look like a desirable and perfect candidate and would help you get your dream job!