The Resume Length Myth: What Really Matters
Our Client's Question ❓
Marina came to me with a common question - "How long should my resume be?" As a career coach of over 20 years, I knew this was the wrong question to ask. Resume length is inconsequential compared to the real key to success.
The 6-13 Second Skim
Studies show that recruiters initially spend a mere 6-13 seconds skimming each resume. In that brief window, they are looking for keywords to assess if the candidate meets basic qualifications for the role. If so, they'll take a deeper look. If not, that resume gets tossed aside.
Optimizing for the Skim 👀
With such limited time, making your resume skimmable is crucial. Formatting and layout matter far more than keeping it to an arbitrary one or two-page limit.
An overcrowded, dense resume in a tiny font may seem concise, but it's virtually unreadable. Conversely, overly verbose resumes spanning multiple pages come across as self-indulgent. Recruiters simply don't have time to wade through all that text.
The solution is smart, strategic formatting that quickly communicates your skills and fit for the role. At Work It DAILY, our resume format is preferred by 74% of recruiters because it enables them to rapidly assess candidates during that 6-13 second skim.
Learn to Optimize Your Own Resume
I cannot emphasize this enough: learning to optimize your own resume is an essential career skill, not something to outsource. You need to deeply understand what works and be able to nimbly update your marketing materials as job searches and roles evolve.
That's why I've prepared a free Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp video walking through our proven, recruiter-approved resume format step-by-step. In just 30 minutes, you'll gain versatile knowledge to empower you throughout your career.
Watching this bootcamp is honestly one of the best things you can do for your job search. With a skimmable, strategically formatted resume, you'll sail through those initial few seconds rather than immediately getting tossed aside.
Get the Proven Process ✅
Your resume's impact hinges on its formatting and readability, not just length. With our insider guidance, you can craft a document that grabs recruiters' attention and compels them to seriously consider you for roles.
So don't waste time stressing over an arbitrary page limit. Instead, invest half an hour to learn the proven process for optimizing your resume's skim-ability. Your job search transformation begins now.
Go get ‘em!
J.T. O’Donnell
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