If you have enough work experience to highlight on two pages, it is acceptable to have a resume that is more than one page long. Many career coaches encourage people who are looking for jobs to have a resume that is two pages. For people who such as health care professionals, scientists, and academics, who must list items such as published works in their resume, it is acceptable to have a resume that is as long as three pages.
Reasons to have a longer resume:
- With resumes mostly sent and read digitally now, many databases search resumes for the frequency of keywords. If your resume is longer, you have the space to mention coveted skills several times.
- Unless you are a recent college graduate, having a one-page resume may signify a lack of experience to employers. Highlighting your skills and work responsibilities thoroughly yet concisely on your resume is more likely to get the attention of employers.
Not sure how long your resume should be? Here are some tips:
If you have less than five years of work experience, you may want to stick to a one-page resume. If you have more than five years of work experience, it is professionally acceptable to have a resume that is longer than one page. If you work in a specialized field such as science, medicine, or academia, it is professionally acceptable to have a resume that is two to three pages in length. Some employers require that you provide references as part of the job application process. List references at the end of your resume or on a separate page.
Include your work experience, skills, and education on your resume. While your resume should be thorough, it is also important that resume is concise. If your resume spills over onto a second page but it is not at least a page and a half, it may be best to condense your resume to a single page. If you have a lot of experience, create a version of your resume that is two pages. Make sure that the information on your resume is relevant and persuasive, especially if it is a longer resume.
Keep a shorter version, if need be
Some employers may specifically request a one-page resume. It may be good practice to have a single-page version of your resume to send to employers that may request an abbreviated version.
Having a resume that is more than a single page is common practice nowadays. Do not be afraid to highlight your experiences and accomplishments in your resume.
About The Author:
Kathy Kara is a writer for the Institute for Coaching, a life and executive coaching company.
