Sometimes less is more....

[Daniel Estby]

I review a lot of resumes. A LOT of resumes. One thing that strikes me more often than not is "Less is more." Honestly by the end of page two on your resume, I've lost interest. Even the more technical recruiters and hiring managers aren't going to take the time to read a mini-volume and to be honest, if you're not shooting for your first job I don't really care about you being captain of the High School Cheer Squad. Yes, it is important to show that you are well rounded but after 15 years in the industry, your high school glory days aren't going to be a deciding factor on offering an interview.

Keep your resume relevant to the industry you're shooting to work in. If your history demands that you have more than a two page resume, consider developing an executive summary that highlights your skills and your experiences. Pick projects to describe that are focused on the job that you are applying for. Yes, it's good to have descriptions of your accomplishments handy to forward on, but there is a lot to be said about keeping your resume relevant, clean and concise.

[Aaron Blower]

That is spot on. Job seekers need to remember that the purpose of a resume is to get them in the door for an interview, not get them the job. There has to be enough detailed information to say "Hey, look at me, I am clearly qualified for this position, let's talk," but not so much that it says "I lack focus and direction, look at everything I've ever done."

Aaron
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