When it Comes to Resumes - Less Isn’t More
While resumes may be essential to the job search, we can all agree that creating one is not at the top of anyone’s list of favorite things. With conflicting advice, we are often left trying to squeeze too much information into a one-page format, to summarize the highlights of our professional careers, or figure out a way to draw out our story onto two full pages.
So, what is the preferred number of pages for a most appealing resume? Good news to all of those currently deciding what won’t quite make the one-page cut! ResumeGo, a professional resume service, sought out the optimal length for a resume and found, “Recruiters were 2.3 times as likely to prefer two page resumes over one page resumes.”Not only did two-page resumes score higher than one-page, but the study found that recruiters also spent nearly twice as much time reading through the content on two-page resumes.
Does this mean you need filler information, to lengthen your one page resume?
Whether you already have a two-page resume, or you are struggling to find the balance of important and irrelevant information to share, we’re here to break down the anatomy of the perfect two-page resume to the point where you know just as much as top Resume Writing Services on the topic.
PAGE ONE
Header and Contact Information
Yes, every resume must start with the basics; after all, you don’t want there to be any confusion as to whom the resume belongs! Your header must be clear with your contact information (typically your name, phone number, and personal email address), with the option to link to your social profiles or personal websites, should it be fitting to the job you are applying. Like putting your name on a paper in grammar school, this should not be the highlight of page one, but an unmistakable identification of the owner.
Professional Summary
Gone are the days of the objective statement - the one to two lines to describe the type of career you were after. Instead, recruiters largely prefer a Professional Summary, focusing on what you bring, instead of what you want. This one to three sentence feature should succinctly describe why you are perfect for the role you are applying, and of course, it should be uniquely written to every role you apply. Read and reread the job description for the role you are applying! This will gravely help you develop a strong professional summary to fit your application.
Work Experience
Time for the most critical section of a resume, where you detail your work history in both a consistent and compelling format. Recruiters will spend the most time reviewing this section, looking for achievements and demonstrations that you may best fit a role.
Instead of writing in description about your previous role, recruiters prefer to learn what you added to your role.Focusing on the job description for the role you are applying, look for parallels that can demonstrate crossover from your previous work to the new position. Not only will this help recruiters to quickly understand how you meet job requirements, but it will also make you memorable, within a stack of competing resumes.
PAGE TWO
Work Experience, continued…
That’s right. The more years of experience you have, the longer your work experience may be. Don’t be surprised if your work experience pushes you onto page two of your resume. In the same job for several years or just getting started? No problem. For you, page two might start with Skills, below.
Skills
Once regarded as an afterthought and delayed to the bottom of a resume, the skills section has become more and more important to recruiters looking for candidates with specialized talents and abilities. This section must be a clear list that fits to the role you are applying. Did I mention the importance of rereading the role description? If a skill is mentioned as a requirement and you can do it, list it in this section. This helps recruiters quickly understand if you may or may not be a fit to the open position.
Education
Because the requirements of many jobs require a certain level of education, it is important to list your academic credentials on your resume. Don’t let this section take up too much space; unless requested, listing the school, when you attended, and your attained degree is all that is necessary. Remember, your goal is to answer the recruiters key question: Is this person a qualified fit for the role I am hiring?
Need a little More?
Additional experience, Organizations, and Associations can be a final catch to wrap up your two pages of gold. Highlighting awards, hobbies, and volunteer experience is never a bad option. Though you don’t want it to detract from your skills and work experience, it can provide a well-rounded picture of who you are. Keep this section limited, succinct, and only on the resume if it makes sense for the position you are applying.
Based on the findings, the two-page preferred resume may get more eyes on your resume, for a longer period of time. Using our guide above, be sure to make sure to make that time count! Best of luck, and happy resume writing!
