What is the correct length of a resume?

The discussion regarding the correct length of a resume has been debated by many a career professional, with each person asked having a different opinion as to an appropriate length. Not so long ago it was stated that a resume should under no circumstances exceed one page, and even the most qualified candidate would not make it to second phase if the resume exceeded the strict one-page rule. Thank goodness that philosophy has now changed with many recruiters and career professionals no longer enforcing this old-fashioned way of thinking.

Having said that, how long then should a person's resume be? A: There is no real hard-and-fast rule, with the length of the resume being subject to a person's experience and overall accomplishments achieved during their career. Other factors to consider include career objective, industry, position, years of experience, number of employers, accomplishments and education/professional development. Remember that your resume is a marketing tool and not an autobiography. As such, it should be written concisely in order to compel the decision-maker to call you for job interviews.

An executive who possesses corporate ingenuity and a career demonstrating success after success cannot possibly portray this vast expertise in a one-page format. This would only serve to limit the overall value being offered to a prospective employer. Also, trying to condense over 10-20 years of accountabilities and accomplishments onto one page would look terrible aesthetically.

By the same token, a graduate with limited experience may have an array of successful projects completed throughout their courses, many of which have been integrated into a corporate environment. One of my clients, a graduate telecommunications engineer, designed a web-based security system during one of his project placements, which is now being utilized within the marketplace. A marketing graduate was given the opportunity to work for a small hospitality business, and during his project he researched, analyzed and developed a comprehensive market analysis for the company. The company was so impressed that they implemented his strategies, with the results capturing client base and revenue growth never before experienced by this restaurateur.

With these examples, had the accomplishments (and other achievements and transferable skills) been omitted from the resume due to a length restriction, each person's campaign would have been jeopardized.

Generally your résumé will undergo a two-part screening process; the initial 10-30 second scan to ascertain a candidate's potential match for the role; then, once your resume survives this brief inspection, the second more in-depth review is where the reader will scrutinize the details provided to see if your competencies and experience truly warrant an interview. During this stage, it is vital to maintain the reader's interest, which is why so much emphasis is placed on information relevance and brevity.

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