What is the rule of thumb for resumes?

Asked by: Evalyn Rutherford  |  Last update: November 8, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (30 votes)

A good rule of thumb is to aim for a single-page resume, or at most, two pages. This may mean cutting out certain jobs or responsibilities that are less relevant to the position you're applying for, or condensing your experiences into shorter, more impactful bullet points.

How many years back should your resume go?

Generally, experts recommend keeping about 10-15 years of work experience on your resume, but that guidance changes depending on your professional history. Your resume is one of the first things a potential employer sees about you.

How many pages should my resume be 2023?

How long should your resume be in 2023? There is no perfect answer. Depending on the job description and your work experience, your resume should be one or two pages long. If you have over 10 years of relevant experience, a multi-page resume works better than a one-page.

What are the 5 golden rules of resume writing?

The 5 Golden Rules of CV Writing
  • Rule 1: Think Before You Type. ...
  • Rule 2: Write Your Professional Profile Last. ...
  • Rule 3: Summarise Your Responsibilities. ...
  • Rule 4: Make Achievements Your Key Area of Focus. ...
  • Rule 5: Write For Your Reader.

How many jobs do you list on a resume?

Pro Tip: In general, you should limit your resume to the past 15 years. For most people, this might include 3-6 jobs, but the exact number of jobs is less important than their relevance to the position you're applying for now.

Write an Incredible Resume: 5 Golden Rules!

16 related questions found

Should my resume include all my jobs?

You Don't Need to Include Every Job on Your Resume: Highlight jobs that demonstrate your experience, skills, and fit for the role. Leave Off Jobs That Are Unrelated: You can also omit jobs that are more than 10 to 15 years old, to avoid age discrimination.

Should I list all my positions on a resume?

The rule of thumb is to go into detail for your last three jobs only. Previous roles just need to be listed in brief with names of employers, dates of employment and role title. Massage that job hopping. If you change jobs more often than most, explain the moves in your resume and SEEK Profile, says Hlaca.

What are the 3 C's of a resume?

The Three "C's" For A Better Resume
  • Keep it Categorized. Before you begin creating or editing your resume, understand the key categories an employer will scan for. ...
  • Keep it Concise. In the case of a resume, less can be more. ...
  • Keep it Consistent.

What are the 4 keys to a resume?

There are four main aspects you need to be aware of and they are Objective, Experience, Qualifications and Skills.

What are 3 points that you should include in your resume?

Key Elements of a Resume
  • Personal Information. Name Current and Permanent address (may be omitted from a resume posted on the web) ...
  • Objective. In one short sentence summarize your goal for your job search. ...
  • Education. ...
  • Work and Related Experience. ...
  • Awards and Honors. ...
  • Activities/Hobbies. ...
  • Skills. ...
  • References (3-5 people)

What are the worst resume mistakes?

The Top 10 Resume Mistakes That Could Cost You the Job
  • Spelling and grammatical errors. ...
  • Incorrect or missing contact information. ...
  • Using an unprofessional email address. ...
  • Including outdated or irrelevant information. ...
  • Failure to demonstrate and quantify results. ...
  • Annoying buzzwords and/or obvious keyword stuffing.

What information should not be on a resume?

There's no need to include personal information on a resume such as your social security number, marital status, nationality, sexual orientation, or spiritual beliefs. In fact, it is illegal for employers to ask for these personal details.

What resume type is most preferred by employers?

1. Reverse-Chronological Resumes. The most widely used resume format among job seekers today, reverse-chronological resumes are also probably the easiest for recruiters and hiring managers to understand at a glance—which is itself an advantage.

When should you remove a job from your resume?

When to leave a short-term job off your resume
  1. You held the job for less than 6 months.
  2. You don't have any relevant accomplishments to list.
  3. The job was in a completely different role or industry.

Should I put my age on my resume?

Should you include your age on your resume? You do not need to include your age on your resume. In fact, including it can put you at a disadvantage as it leaves recruiters and hiring managers with the opportunity to discriminate you based on your age.

How many bullets should you have on a resume?

How Many Bullet Points Should You Use per Job Under Your Work Experience Section? A good benchmark is between 3-5 bullet points per job. However, you can use as few as 2 bullet points or as many as 12 bullet points for each position as long as it's relevant to the job description.

What are 3 sections to break a resume into?

The structure of a resume depends on the resume format you choose: A classic reverse-chronological resume usually starts with a header featuring contact information, followed by a professional summary, description of your job, education section, and skills.

What is key word in resume?

What are Resume Keywords? Resume keywords are words or phrases that describe specific job requirements. They are the abilities, skills, expertise, and values that the recruiter is looking for in a candidate.

How do I make my resume impressive?

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Perfect Resume (With Examples!)
  1. Pick Your Format.
  2. Start With Your Basic Information.
  3. Add in Your Work Experience.
  4. Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience.
  5. Don't Forget Your Education.
  6. Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests.
  7. Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)

What are red flags on a resume?

If an applicant has listed several previous roles at other companies in just the last few months, it's a red flag. This could indicate that the applicant is a job hopper and isn't dedicated to their work. Having multiple full-time jobs in a short period of time can be a sign of instability and a lack of commitment.

What are the do's and don'ts of resume writing?

Making it Look Amazing
  • Do Keep it to One Page. ...
  • Don't Squish it All In. ...
  • Do Consider a Creative or Digital Resume. ...
  • Don't Spend All Your Time on the Design. ...
  • Do Start From a Template. ...
  • Don't Use More Than 2 Fonts. ...
  • Do Make Sure Your Job Titles or Companies Stand Out. ...
  • Don't Go Overboard With Text Effects.

How long do employers typically look at a resume?

On average, employers look at resumes for six to seven seconds. However, the amount of time that an employer spends looking at a resume varies from company to company.

Which part of the resume should stand out the most?

Present a compelling narrative

Instead, the top third of the resume should give employers a quick glance at why it makes sense to talk to you, she explained. It should include your contact information, professional title, professional summary and areas of expertise. Then, dive into your work experience.

Is it OK to use the same resume for each job?

It is important to change your resume for each job you apply to because a customized resume tailored to the specific job and employer can significantly increase your chances of getting noticed by hiring managers and, ultimately, getting hired.

Should you put a job on your resume that you quit?

Should you include the job on your resume? Around 3 in 5 people who've been fired or quit in frustration say they wouldn't include that job in their resume, nor would they mention it at a job interview. However, it's best to include the job on your resume, both our career experts agree.