How Long Should a Resume Be for a Professional?

July 15 2020 - On average, for every job opportunity posted in America, there will be 118 applicants. However, only the top 2% of these applications will get invited for an interview. When it comes to applying for a new job, you need to bring your A-game from day one!

Your resume is the best way to demonstrate clearly why you are the right person for the job. It also allows you to present a lot of information in one place. Nailing this will make you stand out from the crowd.

So how long should a resume be for a professional applicant, and what do you need to include?

If you're not sure about resume length and what you should include on yours, then you're in the right place! Read on to find out more.

How Long Should a Resume Be For a Professional?

If you're wondering 'how many pages should a resume be' the first thing you need to think about is what sort of job you're applying for. This will determine the perfect length of a resume for you.

The ideal resume is clear and to the point. So if you can provide all of your experience on a single A4 page, this will impress most employers. In particular, if you have less than seven years of experience in a given field, your resume should fit onto one page.

If you have more experience or need to provide more detail, then some employers will also read two-page resumes. However, this should only be the case if you have the expertise to fill these pages. Don't add extra fluff material just for the sake of it.

In some cases, the answer to 'how long should a resume be' may also be much longer, but the employer will specify this. For example, they may ask for a 10-page resume, which acts more like a portfolio of your work.

What Should Your Resume Include?

As well as asking 'how long is a resume' you should also think about what you need to include. A long resume won't do you any use if it's missing vital information.

• Your resume should include
• Your up-to-date contact details
• Your relevant employment history (more on this later)
• Your training
• Contact details for your references

You may also want to include additional relevant skills. This could include different languages that you speak, experience working with certain software, or first aid training. The types of skills you should include will depend a lot on the job you're applying for.

Before you put contact details for referees on your resume, you should always check with the referee first. If you haven't got a referee sorted, then you can simply put 'References available upon request' to buy yourself some more time.

What Employment History Should You Include?

Your employment history should include all of your experience that is relevant for getting the job.

For example, let's say you are applying for a job at a bank. In that case, you should include your experience of working in banking and other corporate environments.

In contrast, if you're applying for a job in a restaurant, then you should include details of experience working in the service industry.

Whenever listing your employment history, you should provide the name of the company you worked for and your job title. You should also include the dates that you worked there in months and years.

Depending on how long your CV is, you may wish to include a brief line about your role at the company. This can help to give employers an idea of what roles and responsibilities you had.

How Far Back Should Your Resume Go?

Some job descriptions will ask you for an employment history from a set period of time, while others won't set a limit.

If the job description asks you to provide a history of your work for the past five years, then that's what you should do in detail. You may also like to give a bit more brief information about your employment history before this, but this should be short.

But what if a job description doesn't provide a set period of employment history? Well, then you should provide a thorough resume detailing relevant experience.

How Should You Format Your Resume?

When it comes to formatting your resume, the options really are endless, and everyone has their own style.

Some people go for eye-catching fonts and photos of themselves while others keep it simple. This is often the best idea when you want your resume to look really professional.

The most important thing is that your resume is easy to navigate for the reader. If a recruiter has to search for information or can't find it, they'll probably just put your resume to one side and move on.

You should feature your contact details at the beginning and end of your resume, so they're easy to find.

Using separate headings for different sections of your resume will also make it easier to navigate. It's also a good idea to experiment with fonts and sizing. This can make it easy to differentiate between job titles and employment dates, for example.

Whatever formatting you choose to use in your resume, the most important thing is that it remains consistent throughout. You should also make sure that your employment history is listed in chronological order, starting with your most recent work.

To make your resume truly impressive, you can also get help from executive resume services.

Get Your Resume Application-Ready Today!

Now you know the answer to the question 'how long should a resume be for a professional' what are you waiting for? Remember, unless the job description details otherwise, keeping your resume short and to the point will always be an advantage.

For more tips on job hunting and preparation, keep scrolling!

• More Recruitment Articles