My Resume is Too Long! What Can I Do?
Everyone knows the cardinal rule of resumes: keep it to one page.
Even recent grads with little or no professional experience can find this to be a challenge. Hopefully, there’s a lot you want to add to show what you’re capable of and what you’ve done before. However, resumes with more than one page (two max!) are much less likely to be viewed in full by recruiters and hiring managers.
So how do you decide what stays and what goes, and also how to parse down what stays to maximize that one page? Jane Burnett, one of our favorite contributors to Ladders, has a four step process to make your resume shine, even with just one page of space.
- Remove positions from long ago, especially if they’re not relevant: It’s a common misconception that you have to list every job you’ve ever had on your resume. Get rid of the old jobs that don’t really add much for the position you’re applying for. Especially if you’ve been out of college/school for more than three or so years, get rid of your work-study positions.
- Carefully choose your wording: Your bullet points should be articulate, but there’s no reason to use flowery language or let them ramble on. They should also never be more than two lines long. Even two-line bullet points should really be left to a minimum.
- Remove your references: This is unnecessary, and so is “References available on request”. It should be assumed that if you’re job hunting, you have references for potential employers to reach out to. When and if the time comes for you to advance to the phone screen or interview phase, you can furnish your references in a separate document.
- Choose the right examples: You want to pick bullet points that make sense for the job you’re applying for. Be sure to pick things that will highlight things you’ve already done that are relevant to the job, and get rid of ones that aren’t going to help you.
With that knowledge, parsing down your resume should come a little bit easier. It’s also important to remember that different types of jobs require different types of resumes. As a rule, every resume you submit should be tailored to the job you’re applying for.
Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels
Recent Posts
Good Work Habits Will Always Go A Long Way
No matter what career path you choose or what venue of work you are in possessing good work habits will go a long way in terms of setting you up for success. Some of these habits seem simple, such as arriving at the office or signing on to a remote job early or at...
Using “Best Practice” Work Habits Will Pay Off!
If you treat a job as something you are forced to do and never go the extra distance, in addition to being very unhappy, you will also be sabotaging your own chances for achieving career success. If, on the other hand, you view each work occasion as an avenue to learn...
Hidden Benefits of a Contract Assignment
Working on a temporary or contract work assignment has some obvious benefits such as being able to pay bills or student loans as well as offering dignity and financial independence. But such a position can also provide so much more in terms of personal and...
Feel Good Friday: Persistence
Happy Friday! You’ve made it all the way to the end of the work week thanks to your grit and determination--now let your sense of persistence keep you going through the rest of today, through the weekend, and all the way through the rest of our current transition...
Growing Your Grit And Your Community
Grit is a skill as much as it is a trait; that is to say, grit and persistence are qualities that you can actively practice and develop. Don’t be intimidated by others’ determination! It’s okay to make mistakes along the way. The trick is picking yourself up, dusting...
Wednesday Wellness: Persistence
The week’s midpoint is a great time to take stock of how far you’ve come and where you’d like to go. You’ve already made it through so many new changes the past year plus has brought! You have the strength to persevere. As you do so, remember that actions speak louder...
Appreciating Every Opportunity Will Lead You To Success
Today we’re engaging in a consideration of the long journey through our present unprecedented circumstances. As we increasingly return to normal, it’s important to think about the extent to which everyday activities were taken for granted pre-pandemic. Never would we...
Monday Mood Booster: Persistence
Welcome back! We hope you had a chance to rest up and recharge over the weekend. It may feel difficult to keep your brightness shining, but we know you’re in it for the long haul! Remember what it is that motivates you, that keeps you moving forward in the workplace...
Feel Good Friday: Brightness
Happy Friday! You’ve made it to the light at the end of your work week tunnel. Now take that light into yourself and let it keep shining for everyone around you. Going into the weekend with a positive attitude will help you maintain the forward momentum of your...
Wednesday Wellness: Brightness
Happy Hump Day! Congratulations on letting your inner strength and light guide you all the way to the week’s midpoint. Allow your brightness to shine a beacon leading you through the rest of the week! You have the ability to overcome any darkness and to reframe any...
Monday Mood Booster: Brightness
Welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful weekend, and a chance to enjoy the warm weather. As June 21st and the summer solstice draw nearer, days are growing lighter for longer. This week, we’re inspired by that expanded brightness. We’ll focus on ways to let your...
You Can Succeed Even When Change Is Constant
Today’s unprecedented circumstances can make navigating your workplace feel overwhelming. But don’t panic! You’re going through this time of change alongside everyone else in your professional community. Remember that you’ve established strong patterns that can...
Wednesday Wellness: Change
Happy Hump Day! Just as you’ve made it to the week’s midpoint, you’ve made it through all the changes life has so far thrown your way. Every obstacle has offered up a chance for a fresh start in terms of how you navigate both what happens and its effects. Let go of...
Navigating Change In Your Workplace
Welcome back! While the imminent return to your typical workplace patterns will be a source of familiarity, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that there have been several changes to the world we live in. For this week, as June kicks off, we’ll be focusing our posts...