How Long of a Resume is Too Long?

Conflicting views about the most effective resume format may drive you to cut out relevant accomplishments that could have landed you an interview. When questioning whether your resume length is excessive, let your relevant experience dictate the format. Your resume should tell a compelling story, but unlike a novel, it doesn't need to convey every minute detail of your professional life.

A resume can exceed one page, but if you're expanding to a two-page resume format, avoid using too much or too little white space. A second page that's less than two-thirds full is usually a sign that candidates should fine-tune their editing, says Wendy Enelow, author of "Cover Letter Magic." On the other hand, if both pages are packed from margin to margin, consider cutting out the least relevant details to make your resume concise and readable.

Hiring managers spend hours sifting through weak and poorly written resumes, and they can quickly lose interest and move on if your qualifications aren't immediately obvious at a glance. Wasting space on information that doesn't directly relate to the job can make the important details about you harder to find. Your resume format is too long if it's overloaded with filler information, such as objective statements, that hiring managers can easily infer by reviewing your qualifications.

Regardless of resume length, always make the strongest impression by listing information from most to least important. Your career summary, education and work experience should be the top priorities, says Marcelle Yeager of U.S. News, while coursework, hobbies and volunteer activities are the first details you should consider eliminating if you have a lengthy career history.

Although enrichment information demonstrates passion and initiative in entry-level candidates, applicants with years of experience should focus on verifiable examples of professional competence. For a corporate superstar or a freelancer with a 20-year career, a two-page resume format provides space to spotlight major project contracts. If limited to one page, candidates with long, detailed career histories may be stuck writing broad job descriptions, rather than highlighting how they improved business for well-known companies.

If you're nervous about sending the wrong resume format, contact hiring managers beforehand to ask their preferences. While most candidates are expected to cap their resume at two pages, some employers may have a strict one-page rule or make exceptions for high-level executives and published authors with extensive work experience in their fields.

Even if you have an extensive work history, hiring managers suggest limiting your professional experience to 10 years to shorten lengthy resumes. Remember, resumes are your introduction to a company, but they are not your only chance to shine. In an age of electronic recruiting, employers rely heavily on social media and professional networking to vet candidates. Anything that doesn't fit into a two-page resume can be included on your personal websites or online profiles.

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