How Long Should a Resume Be? A Career Guide

Did you know that the US economy gained about 428,000 jobs in April 2022? Different types of jobs are being posted as companies and employees are choosing remote work. Jobs in leisure and hospitality saw increases and professional and business services.

Are you looking for a career change? Maybe you are just starting out and looking to find that entry-level position that opens up doors for your future. The first step to finding your perfect job is writing a resume.

But how long should a resume be? Keep on reading to find the answer to this question and more.

Types of Resumes

The importance of a resume can’t be under-emphasized. When you are applying for jobs online, you need to ensure that your resume stands out from other applications. This means spending time looking at resume ideas and constantly improving your formatting and descriptions. 

Employers look at your resume for a total of 6 seconds before making a decision. Make sure there are no obvious errors. Most recruiters will scan your big titles and dates and only skim the rest of your resume.

How Long Should a Resume Be for Early Career

Your resume length should vary depending on your experience. The average resume length is about 489 words. 

As an early career applicant, you may not have enough experience to cover 2 pages. It’s best to focus on the relevant details and keep your resume to one page. It should be a summary of your experience and not a detailed account of your life history.

Mid-Career

If you have more than 10 years of experience, you can increase your resume length to 2 pages. This gives you a little more space to detail your experiences. It also limits you so you’re not spending too much time focusing on past experiences but are narrowing your resume down to the highlights.  

Keep in mind that you can increase it to 2 pages if you are looking for more of a management role. Recruiters are more likely to pick a candidate with a 2-page resume for managerial roles. Different industries prefer different lengths, but if you are applying to a more traditional company, you can’t go wrong with a 2-page resume.

Senior Career

With more than 20 years of experience, you can have a longer resume. You want to make sure to limit your experience to the last 10 to 15 years and that the details are relevant to the position you are applying for. Never go longer than 3 pages because you’ll lose the attention of the recruiter. 

If you are applying for more specialized jobs, including c-suite positions, you have a little more leeway. You can spend more time detailing your experiences in your 3-page resume. Some companies have their own limitations and restrictions set out in the job ad that you should keep in mind.

Get Applying Today

How long should a resume be? It really depends on your experience, industry, and the type of job you are applying for. Once your resume is ready, you can start applying online for your next opportunity.

Finding a job also means looking for the best environment for you. Check out our list of jobs with employers who are committed to diversity and inclusion. Your dream job is just a click away!