What is the ideal resume length? Is either a one-page resume or a two-page resume best?
A professionally written resume is key during the job-hunting period because it makes a strong first impression on recruiters, as they take just 7 to 10 seconds to review the resume. A few questions arise here while writing a resume: “What is the appropriate length of a resume? Should it be a 1-page resume or a 2-page resume? Should a resume always be on 1-page? Is this acceptable to write a resume of more than 2 pages?” We understand your frustration with it and care about your career goals. That’s why this article will answer all of your questions, so stay in the loop!
Introduction:
This is a common misconception in resume writing: “A resume should always be one page.” But the reality is opposite. The ideal resume length depends on your career level, your experience, and the roles you are applying for. Career levels refer to the period you spent to gain practical knowledge and experience by working in a position or different jobs throughout your career. The salary ranges also rely on your experience level; if you gain more job experience, you will get a higher salary. There are three career levels, along with career transitioning individuals, including:
- Entry Level (0 to 2 years of experience)
- Intermediate Level (3 to 5 years of experience)
- Mid-Career or Managerial Level (5 to 10 years of experience)
- Senior or Executive-Level (10 to 15+ years of experience)
In this article, you’ll explore when to use a 1- or 2-page resume, which is best for different career levels, and the ideal resume length.
The one-page Resume: When Is It Appropriate?
The one-page resume is the best for entry-level professionals, career changers with limited experience in the new field, and recent graduates.
- Entry-level candidates are individuals who have zero to two years of experience. If you are falling in this level of experience, you should benefit from a concise, one-page resume that highlights relevant expertise, education, certificates, courses, technical skills, and internships or professional experience if you have.
- Intermediate-level individuals who have less than five years of experience should draft their resume on one page where they can demonstrate their strengths, professional experience, education, and relevant certifications to catch recruiters’ attention.
- Career changers are professionals who transition their career into a new field in which they may not have experience directly related to their desired role. For this kind of job seeker, a one-page resume is a better option to showcase their transferable skills and pertinent qualifications without delving into less relevant past roles.
Recent graduates with no practical experience should keep their resumes on one page, where they can highlight their key skills, education, courses, certifications, projects, internships, university society involvements, and how they relate to the target job positions.
The Two-Page Resume: When Is It Beneficial?
Candidates who fall in mid-career, senior, and executive career levels, with extensive relevant experience, multiple roles, or technical expertise, should keep their resume on two pages.
- Mid-career and senior-level professionals with more than five years of relevant experience often find that a single page is insufficient to detail their accomplishments and skills effectively. That’s why they should keep their resume on two pages for a more comprehensive presentation of their career trajectory.
- Senior executives, like CEO, Director, VP, and C-suite professionals who have more than ten years of experience. The resume should be on two pages for these individuals in which they should highlight their core strengths, key achievements, executive experience, key projects, relevant qualifications, and professional affiliations in an effective way.
Is this acceptable to write a resume of more than 2 pages?
Mostly one or two-page resume is considered the best option according to resume writing standards, but for lawyers, researchers, doctors, and federal employees, a 3-page resume is acceptable. They requireda curriculum vitae to better highlight extensive experience, publications, presentations, and detailed project work.
Should a resume always be on 1-page?
You mostly hear a myth from every second person that a resume should always be one page. But this is not true because it depends on the career level. A person who falls at the executive level cannot showcase their whole experience on just 1 page. On the other hand, a person with zero to five years of experience cannot expand their experience to more than one page.
The Impact of Resume Length on ATS and Hiring Managers
A resume length does not matter for ATS screening. Because ATS optimization depends on keywords, formatting, and relevant experience. However, it impacts recruiters’ perspective because they review resumes in 7-10 seconds. So, clarity and relevance matter more than page count for quick reviews. According to research resumes within word counts of 500 to 700 received double the interviews compared to those outside this range.
Summing Up
The ideal resume length is not a one-size-fits-all determination. It depends on individual career stages, industry standards, and the specific job in question. For entry-level, intermediate, and candidates with limited experience, a one-page resume is sufficient. Professionals with extensive experience and specialized fields require two pages to effectively showcase their qualifications. The focus should be on presenting relevant, concise, and compelling information that aligns with the expectations of potential employers.
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