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By Kim Isaacs
careers.msn.com
“How long should my resume be?” is one of the most commonly asked
questions about resumes. Not too long ago, job seekers were told that
a resume should never exceed one page. Those who broke this golden
rule were destined for the circular file. Times have changed, and
so has the criteria for resume length.
The new guideline is: A resume should be long enough to entice hiring
managers to call you for job interviews. That may sound vague, but
there is no hard-and-fast length rule that works for everyone. Factors
to consider include career, objective, occupation, industry, years
of experience, number of employers, scope of accomplishments and education/training.
Keep these facts in mind when deciding on your resume’s length:
* Your resume is a career marketing tool, not an autobiography. Strive
to keep your resume concise and focused on your key selling points.
Be willing to let go of past experiences that don’t market you for
your current goal. Every word in the resume should sell your credentials
and value to a potential employee. You should also leave something
to talk about in the interview.
* It’s common for employers or recruiters to sort through hundreds,
or even thousands, of resumes to fill one position. Hiring managers
often give resumes just a cursory glace before deciding if the applicant
deserves to be added to the “maybe” pile. While your resume will probably
get a more thorough read if you are called for a job interview, ensure
that your strongest selling points are immediately visible to make
the first cut.
Consider a One-Page Resume If:
* You have less then 10 years experience.
* You’re pursuing a radical career change and your experience isn’t
relevant to your new goal.
* You’ve held one or two positions with one employer.
Consider a Two-Page Resume If:
* You have 10 or more years of experience related to your goal.
* Your field requires technical or engineering skills, and you need
space to list and prove your technical knowledge.
* Put the most important information at the top of the first page.
Lead your resume with a career summary so your key credentials appear
at the forefront of the resume. On the second page, include a page
number and include your name and contact information.
Consider a Three-Page Resume or Longer If:
* You’re a senior-level manager or executive with a long track record
of leadership accomplishments.
* You are in an academic or scientific field with an extensive list
of publications, speaking engagements, professional courses, licenses
or patents.
Multiple-page resumes can use addendum pages after page two. Job
seekers can decide whether or not to send the full document or just
the first two pages to a potential employer, based on the job opportunity
requirements.
Source: The Columbus Dispatch; March 9, 2003
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