Resume FAQs

How long should my resume be?

Traditionally, resumes are one page unless you have 10+ years of experience in the field. However, it is becoming more common now for resumes to be up to two pages. If possible, keep your resume to one page. If it goes onto a second page, make sure your most relevant experience appears on the first page. 

Why do resumes have to look so boring?

Many people want to express their personality through the visual style of their resume. While being authentic is an important part of being a professional, resume formatting is not the best place to get creative. ATS, or Applicant Tracking Systems, are artificial intelligence (AI) that screens applicants’ resumes to reject candidates who do not have the necessary qualifications for the role. Many resume templates have features (text boxes, atypical fonts, multiple columns, graphics, etc.) that the ATS struggles to read. This means it doesn’t gauge your experience and thus think you are not qualified for the position, leading to a rejection of your resume.

While not all organizations use ATS, it’s important to know that many organizations do not have actual people reading through every resume at the very beginning of the applicant review process. As such, you risk being excluded from a job search simply because of your resume formatting.

If you are wanting to show your creativity or graphic design skills in an application, we recommend creating a portfolio and including the URL on your resume.

What resume format should I use?

There isn’t one “correct” format that you should use for a resume. However, there are two factors you should consider:

Factor 1: Is the format easy to read?

If someone has trouble skimming your resume, they are likely to miss important information about your qualifications and experiences. Make sure your font is large enough to be read easily and that each section is easily labeled.

We recommend size 10-12 font and using bold or italics to help set information apart.

Factor 2: Will your resume be read by ATS?

ATS, or Applicant Tracking Systems, are artificial intelligence (AI) that screens applicants’ resumes to reject candidates who do not have the necessary qualifications for the role. Some resume templates have features (text boxes, atypical fonts, multiple columns, graphics) that the ATS cannot read. You can use websites like Jobscan to determine if your template is ATS compliant.

Do I need a different resume for every position I apply for?

Yes and no. While we do recommend that you customize your resume to each position you apply for, it doesn’t mean that you have to start from scratch each time. We recommend you keep a running document of every bullet point and format you use so that you can pull from content you’ve made in the past when creating new resumes. That way, you save yourself a lot of time and effort. If you choose not to customize your resume for most jobs, be sure to take the time to customize your resume for the jobs you’re most interested in and to change up your resume when applying for multiple positions at the same company/organization.