CV/Resume Length 3

[AeroNucDef]

Hi All

Just a quick question.

I'm currently writing my CV, and its coming to about 4 pages (A4) in length. I've been working now for the last 16 years, an have accumulated quite a lot of experience. According to the general rule of CV's, you should keep it brief and have a maximum length of 2 pages.

Q.
What do you think I should do? (2 pages and leave out lots of info, or 3-4 pages and lots of info)


Thanks

 

[looslib]

Too many pages will find it in the circular file before it is read. I am guessing you have a chronological CV. Try rewriting it as a functional CV, just listing the companies and then your functions in a separate section.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

 

[zdas04]

When I've reviewed resumes I wanted to see a single page. I'm OK with a second page of publications, but if the work experience went to a second page the CV went in the trash. I wouldn't even send rejection letters to people too lazy or too inept to summarize their experience into one page. I'm not saying you are lazy or inept, but if I got your 4 page CV I would read the first line of the second page and throw it away. Every opening I ever had received too many applicants to fight my way through rambling garbage.

My list of publications no longer fits on one page so I delete the older publications. My basic CV only fits on a single page because of brutal editing. Try it. Cut it down so that in a 12 point font with plenty of white space you are able to get it on one page. Be brutal. Print it off and don't read it. Wait 48 hours and pick it up and see if the missing stuff really changes who someone would think you are. Mine didn't. When I first did it I thought that I had cut the life out of it. After a couple of days of not thinking about it I saw that what was left painted a better picture of who I am and what I can do than the 3 page version.

This is just me. I'm not hiring any more so who knows what my opinion is worth. In a job search you'll find jerks like me. You'll find jerks that won't read a resume unless it is on non-white paper at least 30 lbm. You'll find jerks that will never read a resume that is on non-white paper. You can't please everyone, so you have to do the best job you can and roll the dice.

Good luck

David

 

[hokie66]

I vote for 2 pages. My 40 years fits on 2 pages.

 

[patprimmer]

I tend to do a fresh page per subject

First page jobs
Second page is training & education
Third page is work place skills set
Fourth page is references
Fith page is community social and personal

The first few sentences are large and bold and specifically relevant to the job applied for.

The rest is fine print just in case they decide they want to know.

Regards
Pat
See FAQ731-376 for tips on use of eng-tips by professional engineers &

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm

for site rules

 

[ScottyUK]

Two pages, accurate and concise but with enough detail to allow an informed decision to be made whether to interview me or not. A little bit of formatting just to pick out the important sections and make it more stuctured and readable.

I have a separate sheet of training courses which I might include or not depending on whether they were relevant to the position I was applying for, but it would be as a loose sheet and not attached to my CV.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[AeroNucDef]

Thanks for the replies everyone, you've all been most heplful.

 

[Comcokid]

The general standard is not more than 2 pages.

Also it is common not to go chronological more than 10 years back.

What I do is keep a 2-page resume. Once a company begins to "take the bait" I will either:
1) Follow up with a list of publications/patents/etc in more detail (1-2 pages),
OR
2) If they should request a full employment history, I will send an extended full chronological history resume of more than 2 pages.

 

[TheTick]

Hiring managers are busy people. They don't have time for candidates incapable of summarizing relevant experience into a page or two. If they don't see something interesting in the first half page, they move on.

 

[FeX32]

What do we define as interesting?


Fe

 

[TheTick]

What do we define as interesting?

Whatever is interesting to the hiring manager. Good luck job hunting if you don't have a grip on that.

 

[FeX32]

I by no means need a job. I was just curious on a take on that.


Fe

 

[MikeHalloran]

If the top half of the first page
GRABS THE INTENDED READER BY THE THROAT,
the size of the remainder is irrelevant.

... also if it doesn't.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Ron]

I use two styles of CV's, but since I'm not looking for a job, it probably isn't as relevant. I use a full "Statement of Professional Qualifications" that is 18 pages long. It includes employment, project type experience, publications, and courses taught. I also use abbreviated subject area CV's that are generally about two pages long. These are pointed to specific types of experience (structural, pavements, exterior envelope, materials, etc.). When a request is made for my CV, I usually ask if they want the one that puts them to sleep or the one that wakes them up. Some attorneys (the group most often requesting my CV) like the longer one, but others want the shorter one. If I'm going to be deposed by an opposing attorney, I give the shorter one...it gives them fewer questions to ask!!

When hiring someone, I look more at the content, layout, and grammar/spelling usage in a resume than its length. Most resumes are kept to a couple of pages, but if I find several typos, spelling errors, and mis-matched data, I consider that the person is careless and I don't need him on my team. Perhaps that's a harsh, quick judgment but it's my decision and I'm OK with that.

 

[tickle]

Most of the resumes I see now have a section about how good the person is asa "proactive team member / leader etc". Does it add anything? Will you be penalised for not having it? I do not know, but I do not read it! What do I look for when reviewing a resume is relevant experience, a degree (if relevant) and the chronology.

My own resume is down to 2 pages - references are available on request. When going through recruitment agencies I find that they do not really understand what engineers do nor the companies we work for (outside of the big ones). Often I am asked to provide a description of the companies I work for and detailed list of projects/tasks. This is always in a different style and does not look like a resume. This sometimes ends up with the recruiting company, but the interviewer only appears to read it if the first two pages have grabbed them.

My view is the covering letter (one page only) should be thing that sells you and directs the reader to the relevant experience that is summarised in the resume.

Tickle

 

[msquared48]

I have a 1, 2, and 4 page resume. I send out the one that seems most appropriate considering what the employer wants to see. I also have a side list of representative projects of the type the employer is seeking that I have worked on in the last ten years - 2 pages, and a one page list of references in my hip pocket for good measure.

But don't follow my advice as I am still looking.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[TheTick]

What I don't have is a generic resume for public consumption. Every resume I send out is tweaked for a specific opportunity.

 

[FeX32]

Of course. Good luck getting a job if you have a generic CV.


Fe

 

[ctopher]

You can also get creative with resumes.

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/05/30-artistic-and-creative-resumes/

Chris
SolidWorks 09 SP4.1
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[ScottyUK]

My CV rarely gets tweaked to a specific job. It is always accompanied by a highly job-specific cover letter.

Chris,

Can you imagine using those anywhere outside of graphic design? If one landed on my desk I'd dump it in the bin, unread.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!