RESUMES BLOG: IDEAL LENGTH OF A RESUME IS AN OUTDATED OR STUPID DEBATE

The ideal length of "a" resume is an outdated or even stupid debate. But resume length does matter in a Recession. It is crucial. Why? Because one or two or three pages can make your resume either less or more effective.

There's no such resume as "a" resume -- only your particular resume.

What length of resume will be needed to get interviews in this Recession? This is the same question as asking what length of resume will market you best? At different times and/or stages of your career, either one page or two or three pages will be needed to do justice to your work history, skills and accomplishments.

But in this Recession you should address the employer's needs or TARGET the job ad's requirements in the FIRST 10-15 LINES of your resume. How? In a bulleted SUMMARY. If you don't do this, then your resume will still be very "basic" and you and your resume will be history -- whether one page or two or three. You have only 10-20 seconds to impress a busy reader in a Depression. Where? In the TOP HALF OF PAGE 1 of your resume -- not on Page 2 or Page 3.

THE LENGTH OF YOUR RESUME DEPENDS MAINLY ON YOUR WORK HISTORY, SKILLS AND ACHIEVEMENTS. In this Depression, the correct resume length is crucial because you need a strong resume to compete for fewer jobs.

That's why a recent college graduate who founded and directed a 35-person Crisis Hotline on campus as well as a Women's Clinic, needed to present herself on two pages instead of one. And she also sought a supervisory-level position instead of the usual entry level. She clearly deserved it and was duly hired as a supervisor by Covenant House in New York City.

Other accomplished graduates with research projects to include or businesses they started on campus, may also need two pages but 95% or so of recent college grads will only require a single page, entry-level resume.

MERCIFULLY, THE ONE PAGE RESUME VS TWO DEBATE IS NOW PAST HISTORY. IT ALL DEPENDS. SOMETIMES A STRONG ONE-PAGER WILL BE BETTER THAN A FLIMSY TWO PAGER. BUT NEVER SHRINK THE SIZE OF THE FONT TO 8PT OR 9PT TO MAKE IT ALL FIT ON ONE PAGE. THAT MAKES YOUR RESUME CROWDED AND UNREADABLE. SUCH RESUMES DO NOT WORK!

As you acquire more work experience and achievements, you will "OUTGROW" your entry-level one page resume. And as you add more accomplishments or supervisory/ managerial experience, you will definitely need a two-pager or more.

After 10-15 years, successful senior executives can have three page resumes -- or longer! They'll need the extra length to do themselves justice. Times have changed and longer resumes are acceptable today. But all resumes need to have "eye appeal" and be easy to scan. The main "SELL" must still be in the TOP HALF OF PAGE 1! This is crucial in a Recession.

The "no more than two pages" rule is dead! Global staffing firm Accountemps (www.accountemps.com) periodically surveys hiring managers at the 1,000 biggest companies in the U.S. Ten years ago, 28% said one page was the ideal length for an executive resume. But in the most recent survey, only 7% were still seeking single-page resumes. Indeed, 61% now prefer to get two-page resumes from candidates for management jobs, and almost one-third (31%) said three pages would be fine.

In general, management level employees should try to limit themselves to a two page resume, and executive level employees should try to limit themselves to a three page resume. But, if you need an extra page, so be it.

Your resume is your most important job search tool in this Recession. It is designed to MARKET you effectively to super-picky employers. Try to find out what they are looking for. Then address those requirements in your resume -- IN THE TOP HALF OF PAGE 1. Hit their target and you'll be hired -- even in this Depression.

The next time you hear about any so-called rule of thumb or other half truth about resumes or ideal resume length in this Recession, challenge it by asking: "Who says so?" Any explanation that starts with: "They say that ... " is usually another half-truth or myth about resume writing. You can't afford to listen to the advice of amateurs in a Recession. The blind cannot lead the blind!

mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 718 436-3504

Copyright, 2010 by Resume Writer Matthew Greene