The Myth of the One-Page Resume
You’ve probably heard this before: “Keep your resume to one page.” But is this actually true? In short. No. We could end the blog post right here and just let you know that those of in the profession have ZERO IDEA where this bad advice originated, but instead, let’s drive a stake through the heart of this old wives tale once and for all.
Consider technology
With today’s technology, employers can easily search through thousands of resumes for keywords that match their requirements. An average employer today might only spend only 6 seconds on each resume they review; if they find something that interests them on page two or three, it won’t matter how many pages there are. This means that you don’t have to sacrifice content just to fit everything into one page. But don’t get carried away and turn in a novel either. If you turn in a 10-page necessary you'll end up looking foolish no matter how helpful technology is.
The resume needs to make sense
One page is probably enough if you’re a junior professional. Two pages is probably about right while you advance through your career. And it’s possible that three pages is necessary to showcase why you are the right Senior Leader for a company. Let common sense reign, and simply focus on writing a document that concisely lists your work history and achievements.
Formatting matters
SalesFirst has received hundreds of thousands of resumes, and a decent block of them are 1-page documents jam-packed with info…. almost like a sleeping bag getting stuffed into its sack. When resumes aren’t easy to read, they don’t get read as often. Utilize white space. Use a font and style you like. And use that second page when you need it!
Focus on how well you did, not what you did
If you are looking to bring your single page resume to two pages or trying to trim down your resume from three pages to two- here’s a tip. You don’t need to explain what you did. Instead, list your achievements. When your achievement is that you closed 10 new clients in your first quarter on the job, employers understand you are a sales rep. Give it a single bullet point such as “Sold SaaS products to small businesses in Denver,” and then start talking about the quota that you regularly crushed!
Adam Morris is the CEO of SalesFirst Recruiting and can be reached at www.salesfirstrecruiting.com.
