We’ve seen it for generations and generations inside the classroom and even in the household, the old adage stating that more than one page for a resume is a cardinal sin. Less is more. More is evil.
Well, times change….
You and Your Resume Must Change as Well
The job market isn’t a static entity. Trends occur. And in all honesty, this particular trend is simply based on a myth that’s been followed for decades: the idea that your resume has to be no more than a page long.
Not so. It’s the other way around: more is, well, better!
A “Tighter” Resume Does, Make Sense
Don’t get me wrong, though. The concept of making your resume ‘shorter’ is founded by natural and understandable principles. The fear is this: that your resume ends up being so long that hiring managers get really bored reading it!
It’s common sense, numbers, statistics here. It’s easier reading a batch of 1-page resumes than it is reading a batch of 2- to 3-page resumes. Time management is obviously crucial here, so chances are the hiring managers will try to breeze over the novel-length resumes and focus on the 1-pagers more often.
Still, here’s the bottom line:
It’s the Most Prepared Candidate That Will Land the Job
Prior wisdom would state that it’s the most “qualified.” That, unfortunately, isn’t always the case. Plenty of top-of-the-line candidates miss out on the jobs, because the higher-ups don’t see the value. Why? Because that value isn’t communicated correctly in the resume!
More importantly, though, when you think about it, you’re “selling yourself” with your resume. So why not go the extra mile? Don’t be afraid of going past one page on your resume.
And here’s how:
Sell That Hiring Manager on the First Page of Your Resume
That way, the rest of your content is just gravy to pour on! The more experience, the better – but you’re also targeting your best quality and experience right on the first page.
Put it this way – if you had a 2-page resume and a 1-page resume, and both first pages had equally impressive content, which resume may you probably lean toward? You wouldn’t know unless you read the rest of that 2-pager, right?
So you read the rest, and you find that the candidate has even more experience than the other candidate. Well, then I guess the decision’s obvious! In this case, the more ended up being better.
Maybe You Don’t Have a Lot of Content on Your Resume….
Understandable. So thinking you need to fill in more of the white space may be wise, but let’s face it: hiring managers can smell the tricks and tactics, and they don’t fall for it.
The concept is to glean from the work experience, that you possess all the transferable skills, and list them with details on how those accomplishments will benefit the company.
Once you’re done writing it all out on your resume, chances are you’ll probably be into the second page anyway!
Sell Them on the First Page, Seal the Deal on the Second
Your advantage begins with a professional resume and cover letter. Call Vertical Media Solutions today: 616-631-4300 or 517-308-0800