How to determine the length of your resume?

A resume is a reflection of our career history, and choosing the most highlighted skill sets can be overwhelming when you aren't sure what to leave or take out. 

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” (Confucius)

Focus on your career highlights

My advice is your resume length should be as long as you need it to be. However, my advice is irrelevant when it comes to the actual hiring process.

It's duly noted that recruiters spend about 6 to 10 seconds, scanning your resume for relevant skill sets that are essential to take on the position that is needed to be filled.

As a former recruiter, anything more than three pages had my mind wandering in a whole different direction. 

Do you need a third page?

Now that is not to say that some industries don't need more than two pages to frame their story like Nurses, IT or Educators, etc.

These types of career paths require constant training and certifications needed to take upon those roles.

Also, you want to create relevancy to the job(s) that you are applying for. The reality is that we have so much experience it's challenging to condense it all in one or two pages. Another problem that you can run into with a lengthy resume is the passing of the ATS systems. But don't let that discourage you because most resumes are picked up with keyword optimization.

Contributions that show some relevant facts to your career paths. 

So how long is too long? Most resumes should be two pages in length now the third page is necessary if you have any achievements, publications, speaking engagements and or other contributions that show some relevant facts to your career paths. 

Make room for more

Now with that being said if you have some employment history that can count as transferable skills but isn't quite relevant to the position you are applying for, then I would add a "Past Employment History" section. Especially if it's over 15 years old.

Also if you have some skill sets you want to add like computer competencies or leadership, then I wouldn't recommend creating a chart for this since it will take up much space. I would add it across with commas.

Example:

This can potentially save you some space depending on who's the resume for etc.