Is There an Appropriate Resume Length?

One question that plagues many job seekers as they write their resumes is whether they should make theirs one or two pages. This is something that is easier for resume writing specialists to determine because they're used to making this choice, but you may feel a bit more conflicted about the decision.

Should I Choose One or Two Pages?

So you're writing out your information and getting it all organized when you realize you've reached a crossroad. The resume is pushing into a second page and it looks like it will only reach the middle. Should you go back to one or stretch it out to two.

Really it depends on how much information you have to include. If you have information that doesn't necessarily relate to the position, it's good to downsize to one page. However, if you have details you have yet to include, you may want to stretch it out.

Pros One- and Two-Page Resumes

Before making your decision one way or the other, it's good to know some of the pros and cons of both. One pro of using the one-page resume is that most recruiters and managers have short attention spans and don't want to read through a book. So by providing a snapshot of career, you could keep their attention spans while still telling your story.

On the other hand, a two-page resume is often necessary for those with very extensive work histories. However, even if you stretch to two pages, you want to make sure your content is extremely concise. Hiring managers read resumes all day and know when you're adding unnecessary information, so don't do it.

The moral of the story is, if you're trying to choose a length, it's better to go the shorter route - one page. However, if you will be missing very relevant aspects of your career with one page, two pages should be fine. Just try not to stretch it beyond two to avoid having your resume moved to the bottom of the pile.