So a few people have asked me about the whole “One Page Resume” approach. I wanted to share a friend’s inquiry on this concept, and my general (but hopefully helpful) response:
I’ve been thinking… since you are the expert… What percentage of marketers (like myself) use a one pager? And do HR professionals want a one pager; or is it just a recruiter thing?
The only reason why I ask is that the market is so competitive and companies are looking for an exact fit, so if you’re only providing the top 6 highlights, chance are you’d be passed over…right? Tons of friends/contacts have sent their resumes to me over the years, all are 2 pages (and was under the assumption because their experience is so deep).
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Fair question. It’s all about “key words.” The one-pager goes for recruiters and hiring managers alike.
It’s the old “Less is More” adage. But it’s also about having the right “less.” Your fate is determined by a computer half the time (awesome, right?) that is looking for specific matching words/terms. I don’t care if you have 5 years of experience or 30 years. Your resume has to be set up in a way where both computers AND people can quickly see that you’re what they’re looking for; Which brings me to another point: If you come across an opportunity that you’re really jazzed about, take 10-15 minutes to get creative, and essentially “mirror” what you see in the description before you submit your resume. And then continue to be proactive, and try to locate the hiring manager/recruiter (or at least someone who can help you get in touch with that person) via social media “detective” work.
I could go on and on, but that’s what I have for now. 