My resume is only 1 page and I’ve been developing since the 90s. It has 11pt font, so I see your point but far from illegible. Engineering managers have thanked me before for making it one page. I’ve had recruiters ask me to reformat it before to look like everyone else’s. I respectfully decline. Then they watch me get a callback faster than other candidates or get an offer after 1 round. No one wants to read a book. Last big job search I ended up with 4 offers so I must be doing something right.
It’s hard for someone starting out to get a job. The more unconventional the resume the better so they can stand out.
One of my friends in college went down to the local police station and got the blank paperwork for filing a warrant for a fugitive. He made his resume look like a police dossier. It looked like the real thing, but I think he embellished it to say WANTED. Quite brilliant really. Josh got an amazing job right out of college at a company with a household name.
If I were just starting out today I think I might try something drastic like that. You’ve got to stand out somehow no matter the experience. Page length doesn’t matter. Making a statement does.
Well, you started off your comment by saying your resume is "only 1-page", then ended by saying "page length doesn't matter". So I'm not sure what point you're making. :)
In any case, my advice comes from several job hunting experts. Ultimately, it really depends on the person and their experience. I agree, differentiation is important. The point is to sell yourself and your accomplishments, in order to get an interview. (A resume alone doesn't get someone a job.) If someone can sell themselves in 1-page, great. But don't cut out relevant accomplishments to your own detriment.
For sure. We totally agree! Relevancy is key, but you don't need to push the irrelevant items to second or third pages. You can omit them entirely.
The point I am trying to make by saying "page length doesn't matter" is pretty much what you are saying. It comes down to personality, being able to stand out. Maybe it's a great idea to make the resume a 1000 pages long so when someone goes to print 1000 pages spit out of the printer that read "HIRE RYAN", "HIRE RYAN", "HIRE RYAN" , or maybe its something more clever like if you were to piece them together it says a message. That is if anyone even prints these resumes anymore.
FWIW I've probably interviewed with over 100 companies throughout my career. I've listened to the advice of "experts" and proven them wrong time and again.
Sure, everyone should do what works best for them. Listen to experts, but of course YMMV. I personally am not out to prove experts wrong, but to apply what's relevant for me.
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My resume is only 1 page and I’ve been developing since the 90s. It has 11pt font, so I see your point but far from illegible. Engineering managers have thanked me before for making it one page. I’ve had recruiters ask me to reformat it before to look like everyone else’s. I respectfully decline. Then they watch me get a callback faster than other candidates or get an offer after 1 round. No one wants to read a book. Last big job search I ended up with 4 offers so I must be doing something right.
It’s hard for someone starting out to get a job. The more unconventional the resume the better so they can stand out.
One of my friends in college went down to the local police station and got the blank paperwork for filing a warrant for a fugitive. He made his resume look like a police dossier. It looked like the real thing, but I think he embellished it to say WANTED. Quite brilliant really. Josh got an amazing job right out of college at a company with a household name.
If I were just starting out today I think I might try something drastic like that. You’ve got to stand out somehow no matter the experience. Page length doesn’t matter. Making a statement does.
Well, you started off your comment by saying your resume is "only 1-page", then ended by saying "page length doesn't matter". So I'm not sure what point you're making. :)
In any case, my advice comes from several job hunting experts. Ultimately, it really depends on the person and their experience. I agree, differentiation is important. The point is to sell yourself and your accomplishments, in order to get an interview. (A resume alone doesn't get someone a job.) If someone can sell themselves in 1-page, great. But don't cut out relevant accomplishments to your own detriment.
For sure. We totally agree! Relevancy is key, but you don't need to push the irrelevant items to second or third pages. You can omit them entirely.
The point I am trying to make by saying "page length doesn't matter" is pretty much what you are saying. It comes down to personality, being able to stand out. Maybe it's a great idea to make the resume a 1000 pages long so when someone goes to print 1000 pages spit out of the printer that read "HIRE RYAN", "HIRE RYAN", "HIRE RYAN" , or maybe its something more clever like if you were to piece them together it says a message. That is if anyone even prints these resumes anymore.
FWIW I've probably interviewed with over 100 companies throughout my career. I've listened to the advice of "experts" and proven them wrong time and again.
Sure, everyone should do what works best for them. Listen to experts, but of course YMMV. I personally am not out to prove experts wrong, but to apply what's relevant for me.