Over the last few weeks, I’ve covered the top three deadly resume mistakes. Let’s do a quick recap.
#1- Not tailoring your resume towards each and every position. 95% of employers using an applicant tracking system to weed through resumes, it’s crucial to determine the keywords/phrases from the job description and correctly add them to your resume.
#2- Not including quantifiable data.The best way is to get your resume noticed, is by including quantifiable data. #’s, $ amounts, and % stick out to the human eye. People only take between 10-15 seconds to decide if your resume is going in the Yes or the No
#3-Including an Objective Statement. An objective statement doesn’t tell an employer what valuable skills and qualifications you bring to the table. The best way to replace an objective statement is to use a Summary of Qualifications. This summary should include a paragraph of your most significant and relevant experience and accomplishments.
Today let’s discuss a mistake I see quite frequently, and can sometimes be difficult overcome, resumes that are too long. The reason this error can be challenging is that most individuals have a vast and diverse set of experience that needs to be trimmed down.
First, what is considered to be too long? That depends on your field and years of experience. Let me start by covering two exceptions of the length rule.
Curriculum Vitae (CV’s) which means a course of life in Latin. A CV is primarily used in the education field, or when applying to countries outside the U.S., and Canada. It’s a lengthy document because it includes in-depth information about you experience, accomplishments, honors, awards, publications, and presentations. Therefore, a CV isn’t subject to a certain length.
Government/Federal resumes. If you are applying through USA Jobs, your resume does not need to adhere to a certain length. Like a CV, it doesn’t need to include as much in-depth information about your career as possible. For my clients, I suggest including any and every professional experience whether it is relevant or not.
For all other job seekers, here is the general rule:
Less than 10 years: One-page
10 to 20 years: One to Two pages
More than 20 years: Two to Three pages max!
In addition to this rule, there is one critical question you must ask yourself, “Is this experience relevant?” No matter how many years of work experience you have if it’s not related to the position you are applying for don’t include it. Employers want to know what experience, skills, and knowledge you have that is going to contribute directly to that particular position.
Furthermore, you could have a Ph.D. and 30+ years experience in your industry, but no hiring manager wants to look over a 5-page resume. You’ll get the chance to explain your knowledge and expertise in much more detail during the interview.
To find out if your resume contains is too long or contains irrelevant information, send me a copy of your resume on LinkedIn or email me at cassiecareerconfidence@gmail.com. Invest in your success and make sure you aren’t committing one of these deadly resume mistakes.