Resume too long? Ugh! Boring and counterproductive. Here’s how to reduce
length of your résumé by as much as a page or more without sacrificing meaning, impact, or readability.“They say my résumé should be only one page long. Is that correct?”
Not necessarily. Many résumés are rightly two, three, or even more pages in length.
On
other hand, many résumés are far longer than necessary. Carelessly written, they contain “TMI”—“Too Much Information”—and that mind-numbing surplus can damage or destroy a résumé’s ability to generate a job interview.
Here are some tips to help you avoid that possibility:
Eliminate “fluff.” Some of us use bloated, hackneyed, or empty phrasing that just takes up space. For example, a résumé’s objective might say something like “Accomplished Mechanical Engineer seeks an upwardly mobile, challenging position in a growing company.” Better: “A continuing career in Mechanical Engineering.” Be ruthless in cutting out language that serves no plausible purpose.
Weed out
unnecessary. Few readers enjoy plowing through overly detailed job descriptions on a résumé. Make sure your duties, responsibilities, and achievements are described in only as much detail as necessary.
Avoid “flop-overs.” Save space better used elsewhere by rewriting sentences or paragraphs that end with only a few words on
next line or on
next page. Not only will your writing look neater, but you may also save space better used elsewhere.
Downplay old experience. In most cases,
last 10 – 15 years of our work experience are
most relevant to our next job. Showcase your skills and achievements in that span in as much detail as prudent. Then, shorten earlier job descriptions accordingly.