A Six-Second Resume

The idea that a resume should not be more than one page is generally a rule of the past. Sure, it may still be true if you’re a recent college graduate or if you are seeking a drastic career change. If you have been working in an established position or in a related field for more than ten years, on the other hand, you may require a two-page resume. Additionally, the more technical knowledge and expertise you have to share, the more publications in which you have been featured, the more speaking engagements you have given, etc., the longer your resume may be.

That being said, one of the biggest mistakes candidates make with their resumes is being too verbose, detailing absolutely everything they have ever done. It is imperative to keep in mind that a resume should be concise; it is not an autobiography but rather a tool with which to market oneself for the position at hand.

In reality, employers only spend an average of six seconds looking at candidates’ resumes — six seconds. That means that your resume should be as clear, focused, and organized as possible so that the recruiter can glean as much information about you as possible in that short time frame.

The first way to appeal to stand out to a potential employer’s quick glance is to start your resume with a brief profile — or career statement, objective, sales pitch, etc. — at the top. This brief introduction can highlight important pieces of your resume that might not otherwise appear until later on.

After you have caught their eye, the question then becomes how exactly you are supposed to cut down your professional career, strengths, expertise, education, and experience into a mere one or two pages.

One of the simplest ways to do this is to modify the explanation of each position. If you are not worried about the length of your resume, include a descriptor in order to highlight your skills and strengths for that particular role. If you opt to go this route, make sure that your bullet points are clear, concise, and best showcase what made you a quality employee — particularly in regard to the position for which you are currently applying.

(The most important thing is to focus on transferable skills: sure, employers might think it’s great that you served on Committees A, B, C, and D, or that you were Employee of the Month in April 2012, but if you can instead show that you are a strong collaborator and that you are an innovator — and back those up with examples — they are more likely to want to know more.)

Relatedly, if you performed the same tasks at more than one place of employment, do not repeat yourself: focus on the skills and accomplishments specific to each position.

If there is more you would like to say but are concerned about space, write a short descriptor and leave the rest for your cover letter and interview.

And finally, if you would like to highlight more of your work history but still want to limit your resume to one page, simply include the company name, your position, and your dates of employment.

Whether or not to hide the descriptors also depends on your audience: for instance, if this particular applicant were applying for a position at an insurance firm, it would be prudent of her to omit the descriptors detailing what she did in the school environment. But, if she were applying for a teaching fellowship, these pieces of information would be imperative and give her an edge over other applicants. Knowing your audience — and marketing yourself toward them — is key.

Look at your resume with a critical eye — and with a red pen. Do employers really need to know every single thing you did at your last job? No? Delete. Did you repeat that you are a team player for three separate jobs? Yes? Delete. Are the skills you highlighted transferable to the job for which you are applying? No? Delete.

You want those six seconds to work to your advantage:  Use Kudoswall ATS score checker, analyze your resume, and use the prompts for improvements- and you are all set for a bright professional career.