In relation to resumes, many job seekers dangle onto outdated concepts and practices, comparable to together with a avenue handle, that includes an “Goal,” or assuming the doc needs to be just one web page. On this put up I’ll handle the query, “How lengthy ought to a resume be in 2025?”
(In fact, the reply will apply to 2024, and past 2025 as effectively.)
In recent times, I’ve learn survey after survey confirming that almost all recruiters choose to obtain a two-page resume, except the place is entry stage.
Why the change? It might be for a similar motive that interview and hiring processes are longer and extra advanced than they was: as a result of employers are more and more involved in regards to the excessive value of a hiring mistake. They need to be sure they’re interviewing and hiring the fitting particular person, they usually hope that getting extra data might assist them try this.
Who ought to contemplate a resume longer than one web page?
Anybody with various years of labor expertise ought to take into consideration together with a further web page. You probably have lots to say for your self, it’s probably you need to transcend a web page.
Why ought to your resume be two pages (most likely)?
There’s quite a lot of worth you’ll be able to convey, given this additional area.
Accomplishments along with job obligations: Duties present what you’ve completed, however accomplishments present the outcomes and affect of your work. That may imply naming the initiatives you’ve accomplished, initiatives you’ve led and issues you’ve solved, amongst different gadgets. In every case, make sure you convey outcomes–quantified if doable–and the way your work benefited the corporate.
Context: Recruiters prefer to know perceive what sort of firms you’ve workd for. It’s normally useful so as to add a line above every job description (proper after the corporate, location, job title and dates) stating the character of the enterprise, comparable to World chief in skilled staffing and consulting companies, with greater than 700 places of work worldwide, or Main on-line retailer in swim items, recognized for cutting-edge e-commerce advertising. Placing this description in italics helps differentiate it from the encircling data. This line may present what was prestigious about your employer, which displays effectively on you.
Core Competencies and Expertise: Many fashionable resumes embrace a “Core Competencies” part close to the highest, highlighting important skills comparable to “Social Media Advertising,” “Staff Management & Improvement” or “Associate Relationship Administration.”
The heading “Expertise” is extra generally used for technical expertise and instruments, which could be equally necessary or extra so, relying in your occupation.
LinkedIn suggestions and different kudos: Social proof is more and more highly effective in our reviews-driven world. Why not have earlier bosses and/or co-workers vouch for you, proper there in your resume? This cutting-edge method can increase your resume’s credibility, to not point out the way in which these quotes pop off the web page and seize consideration.
Branding: Ought to a recruiter need to learn your entire resume earlier than they perceive what’s particular about you? Why not make that clear throughout the first third of the web page? Craft a compelling introduction that features any of the next components:
- Headline, which succinctly communicates who you might be and the kind of function you’re searching for. For instance, “Larger Training Administration Skilled,” “Advertising Chief,” or “High quality Assurance Engineer.”
- Subhead, which could be both a tagline comparable to “Dynamic Ends in Enterprise Course of Enchancment,” or a number of key expertise or promoting factors, comparable to “Networking | Safety | MacOS/io.”
- A 3- to five-line paragraph, or three to 6 bullets, conveying a few of your key promoting factors.
And extra: learn my put up, 7 Stunning Issues You Can Placed on Your Resume.
What about three pages, or 4…?
Though two pages is the “candy spot” for many job seekers, it’s possible you’ll need to contemplate further pages in case your work is extremely technical, in case you are a C-level govt, or for those who’re a professor, a health care provider, or in another occupation the place a curriculum vitae (CV) is anticipated as a substitute of a resume.
So, how lengthy ought to your resume be in 2025 and the foreseeable future?
Finally, you desire a resume size that works. For the entire causes above, there’s a great likelihood meaning two pages. And for extra assist with what to place in these pages, learn my put up, 10 Resume Should-haves.
