While the old standard dictating a one-page resume is no longer valid—two or even more pages are fine—you still need a resume with compelling content. Longer length is not an invitation to tell your life story in rambling detail. Editing your resume will make it stronger. Look to edit:
- Outdated skills, such as knowledge of obsolete software or products, like pre-Macintosh Apple computers.
- Accomplishments that do not apply to the job you are seeking. For example, your extensive knowledge of Latin probably will not help you land a job managing a construction site.
- Details of jobs that you have outgrown. After 10 or 20 years of experience in the same industry, your first job does not merit as much space as your current job. You are assumed to know the basics that you learned in your entry-level position.
- Irrelevant information, such as hobbies that have no bearing on the job you want. If you want to work in sports marketing, then your interest and participation in sports is relevant; your interest in painting landscapes is not.
- Relying on adjectives and adverbs rather than hard facts. Your resume will have more impact on hiring managers and recruiters if you avoid statements like “top-rated, proactive salesperson with incredible close rate.” Instead, offer solid facts like “ranked 4 out of 30 salespeople, exceeding sales quota by 5% year-over-year.”
If you have trouble deciding what to leave in and what to leave out of your resume, contact Robin’s Resumes®. We know how to make every word in your resume count.