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Ask HN: Why are resumes longer than one page frowned upon?

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Re: Ask HN: Why are resumes longer than one page frowned upon?

#11

Post by codingdave »

Think of it in the context of why you send out a resume in the first place. Contrary to how it might seem, it is not to get you a job - nobody is going to read every word and get all excited about every detail and then bump you to the top of their list.

Instead, it is about getting you an interview. You want them to be able to skim the resume, see some good chunks of potential in it, and want to know more. That way, they will call you.

A long resume is going to have too much detail to make those highlights stand out. Your content will fight with itself to get the reader's attention. It is going to make someone sorting through a (sometimes literal) pile of resumes just think, "I don't have the energy for this" and throw your resume out.

Think of it for what it is - marketing. Get someone's attention, show them you can solve their problems, and make them think: "I should call this person."

Re: Ask HN: Why are resumes longer than one page frowned upon?

#12

Post by quantified »

k310 wrote: post #6

Probably: (opinion only) ∙ TLDR ∙ One page is enough for keywords, which is all that software scans for. ∙ Recruiters don't have multi-page scanners. Just iPhones. ∙ If you have 20 years experience, (more than can fit on one page) you're too old to work in Silicon Valley. I put "synopsis" at the top of my resume, and was asked how long I worked at Synopsis. I didn't.

Plenty of people with 20+ years of experience work in Silicon Valley.

Re: Ask HN: Why are resumes longer than one page frowned upon?

#13

Post by workfromspace »

codingdave wrote: post #11

Think of it in the context of why you send out a resume in the first place. Contrary to how it might seem, it is not to get you a job - nobody is going to read every word and get all excited about every detail and then bump you to the top of their list. Instead, it is about getting you an interview. You want them to be able to skim the resume, see some good chunks of potential in it, and want to know more. That way,…

Good point.

Then perhaps 2 CVs? 1 one-pager for advertising and getting the interview, and 1 multi-page, detailed, for the interview?

(Asking for a friend, with ~20yoe :)

Re: Ask HN: Why are resumes longer than one page frowned upon?

#15

Post by aprdm »

I get hundreds to thousands of CVs for an opening. I spend 5-10s on each one. That's why. Your resume should basically tell me that I should talk more to you and why.. doing it on one page or two pages max is how you optimize for it. I cannot spend more than 5-10s on each one or I would never finish

Re: Ask HN: Why are resumes longer than one page frowned upon?

#16

Post by aprdm »

workfromspace wrote: post #13
codingdave wrote: post #11

Think of it in the context of why you send out a resume in the first place. Contrary to how it might seem, it is not to get you a job - nobody is going to read every word and get all excited about every detail and then bump you to the top of their list. Instead, it is about getting you an interview. You want them to be able to skim the resume, see some good chunks of potential in it, and want to know more. That way,…

Good point. Then perhaps 2 CVs? 1 one-pager for advertising and getting the interview, and 1 multi-page, detailed, for the interview? (Asking for a friend, with ~20yoe :)

No one will read a multi-page CV for an interview. It will be a conversation and some set of questions from both sides.
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