One of the biggest mysteries of job application is resume length. Because of this mystery, people wonder, how long should exactly be a resume.
A single-page resume is considered to be a good resume, only.
What if you have a lot of relevant skills, experience, and achievements?
Well, you cannot find any specific best length for your resume. No matter, how hard you try.
The only important thing is your resume should make a great first impression. Your only motive when composing a resume should be how to grab the attention of recruiters. However, there are different views on the allowable length of the resume.
We have a great news for you. In this blog, we have analyzed the different resumes of different people who have been hired by competitive companies. In this guide, we have tried to explain everything you need to know about resume length. Also, we have mentioned some excellent tips that will assist you in creating a long-lasting impression on recruiters with your resume. Let’s begin with these crucial details.
How Detailed Should A Resume Be?
A page resume is considered to be an ideal resume because hiring managers find it easy to review. However, a single-page resume should contain highly relevant information about your skills, academic details, and work experience. It must be concise. Single-page Resume Writing is perfect for most job seekers. But, multiple-page resumes are also considerable.
When Is It Ideal To Use a Single-Page Resume
Below, you will read about a few elements that will explain where and when a one-page resume is acceptable.
- Fresh Graduates
Recent graduates, interns, and students don’t have years of working experience. Therefore, it is easier for them to keep their resume to one page without skipping any crucial details.
- Shifting Careers
Shifting to a new career means you will have new employment requirements. Applying for a new opportunity and career means you don’t have to mention your old career’s achievements, skills, and projects. You can only mention those that are relevant to the current new job you are applying for.
- Applying To The Same Company
Employees who are applying for a new role in the same company can keep their resume to one page. Even if you have several years of experience you don’t need to mention it when applying to the same company. In this scenario, you only have to mention your company achievements and you can use your learned skills for the new position.
When Is It Ideal To Use a Two-Page Resume
A two-page resume is ideal for the following.
- Experience
People having more than 10 years of experience can opt for 2 page resume. After many years of experience, people have several projects, achievements, and skills to show and that might exceed to second.
- Technical Skills
Individuals who have engineering or technical skills like design, statistical analysis, research, database, documentation, and compiling statistics may need a second page to showcase all this expertise.
Format For Writing Two Two-Page Resumes
When writing a two-page resume, the first page should contain your career summary. Include the most relevant information on the top. On the second page, highlight your achievements, projects, and other relevant experience. You can also mention your part-time jobs, certifications, and other achievements that are relevant to your present career.
When Is It Ideal To Use a Three-Page Resume?
You can take your resume to three pages in the following cases:
- Senior Designations
You can make a three-page resume when you are applying for leadership or higher-level designation.
- Multiple Projects
You can opt for three three-page resume when you have multiple projects, and experiences relevant and important to the job role.
- References
Applying for a higher position may require references. You can add a reference to your three pages as well. It is best to send a cover letter to create a more strong impression on the recruiter.
Effective Tips To Concise Your Resume
An ideal way to create a good impression is to keep your resume concise. Follow the below tips to learn how to concise your resume.
- Eliminate Filler Words
Employers and recruiters spend a few minutes going through any resume and deciding if the candidate is a perfect fit or not. Therefore, it is better to eliminate words that hold space.
For example: Basically, even, actually, be able to, a number of, etc. To keep it more concise you can eliminate words like the, an, and, that, or, and a.
- Try Different Sizes And Types
If your resume still consists of multiple pages even after removing all the filler. Try changing font types and sizes. The font of your resume should not be too big or too small. Typically, opt for 12-points and some standard fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, and Jost.
- Use Of Bullet Points
Bullet points are simple and easy to read. Try to explain your every role in three or five bullet points. Most importantly, ensure you have not skipped any crucial information.
Frequently Asked Question
- How long should be a Canadian resume?
An ideal Canadian resume should be 2 pages long. But, if you are a fresh graduate it’s better to opt for a single-page resume. Again, it depends on the number of years of experience and your seniority level. You can take your resume 3 pages detailed if you have relevant experience.
- What is an ideal Canadian resume format?
Canadian recruiters mostly prefer chronological order. This is the most common resume format. In this format skills and employment history are prioritized.
- Does a Canadian resume require any references?
Until and unless the job posting asks you to mention references, hobbies, and salary expectations you don’t need to mention them. If it is asked you can mention them on a cover letter.
Key Takeaways
Figuring out the ideal length of your resume is important, especially when you are applying to a competitive organization where they have multiple applications. However, knowing the right length of your resume is equally important as much as the readability of your content. Your main focus should be on incorporating relevant information in concise sentences that are simple to understand.
From Gal’s case study, we have learned a very effective tip which states “Sometimes rule-of-thumb is not ideal for every situation.” Similarly, Daniel’s story tells us that keeping your resume to one page is not always advantageous.
Just do your research on the position you are applying for and follow the above-mentioned tips.