Wondering how long your resume should really be? You’re not alone. In today’s fast-paced job market, many highly qualified candidates find themselves with more high-quality experience than would easily fit on a one-page resume. This can be confusing for job seekers who want to present their experience and qualifications, but who know hiring managers don’t want to read through overly long resumes. Today’s article discusses the times when an extended resume is warranted, and when it will do you more harm than good.
The Bottom Line on Resume Length
The fact is that there is no hard-and-fast rule on resume length, but it’s important to be as concise as possible. Don’t be too brief or too detailed just for the sake of your page count. If the content of your resume strikes the right balance of brief yet informative, you can be confident that it will be well received. That said, be very careful in your reading of job descriptions and application instructions, as some employers request a specific page length for the resume you submit. In these cases, applying with anything other than the exact page length requested could result in your resume being eliminated.
Resumes vs. CVs
Now considering what you should be presenting in a resume, you will want to make sure you present your work experience and qualifications in a clear and concise manner. One-page resumes are ideal. Two-page resumes are acceptable, particularly if you have been working in the field for an extended period of time or for multiple employers. If your resume is longer than two pages, it is highly likely that you can and should do some trimming. Many candidates get resumes confused with a CV (or curriculum vitae). You want the resume you submit to only highlight the most relevant experience and qualifications as they apply to the job description you are responding to. It is a good idea to keep a master resume or CV which lists and describes your career in full, but not every experience you have will necessarily help sell you for a particular position you are applying for. Read the job description carefully and select the content that is most relevant to the job at hand.
How to Trim Your Content Appropriately
It can be really tough to decide what experience will and won’t help you present yourself for a job. This is especially true if you are applying to a number of jobs at once. It’s tempting to submit one resume for multiple opportunities, but this untargeted approach will rarely work in your favor. Instead, review the job description very carefully, and select the experiences, projects, and skills that are most relevant to the opportunity. Your resume should be streamlined and free of any experience that simply is irrelevant to a particular job or company. Remember that once you get an interview, you’ll have every opportunity to elaborate on your experience. Use your resume as a hook to catch the interest of hiring managers.
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When you’re ready to take the next step in your energy career, contact the recruiters at Energy Services Group International. Our team will discuss your skills and goals to find the right match for your career.
