How Long Should Your Resume Be?

​When crafting your resume, some of us run into an issue of it being too long or too short. If it is too short, you find yourself leaving out valuable information. If it is too long, then you the risk of adding unnecessary information. So, what is the perfect resume length?
 
Should My Resume Be One Page?
 
I am sure you have heard throughout your career that your resume should only be one page. There is not a “one-size fits all” resume. The length of your resume will depend on your career level, accomplishments, and skills. 
 
The truth is, when trying to cram all your skills and accomplishments in one page, you are limiting yourself and your experience to potential employers. This is hurting you in the long run. If you are not going to ‘brag’ about yourself, who else will? Who else will let employers know who you are better than you?
 
Entry-Level Professionals
 
For most recent college graduates, a one-page resume will suffice due to the lack of professional experience. There will be cases where an entry-level professional will have longer than a one-page resume. For example, if they have had multiple internships and taken part in various community service projects, then a two-page could be feasible. However, make sure the information is relevant. As you gain experience, your resume will grow.
 
Mid-Career and Senior-Level Professionals 
 
At this point in your career, you are expected to have a resume longer than one page. A two to three-page resume will allow these individuals to display those accomplishments and emphasize their qualifications to the reader without removing essential information. You do not want to sell yourself short by cramming everything into a one-page resume and taking the risk of leaving off critical information relevant to the positions you are applying to. 
 
Something else to include in this conversation is how far back your work history should go. The general rule of thumb is to give the reader about 10-15 years of your job history. However, you want to make sure that experience is relevant to the role you are applying to and paints a clear picture of the direction you want your career to go.