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Why Your CV Should Be 1 Page

27 September 2019 | 0 comments | Posted by Che Kohler in Talent Agents

Reasons for A One page CV

The debate on how to structure your CV continues to rage on as everyone has their opinion on how to create an attractive personal selling profile. Some are of the school of thought that more is always better while others feel short and concise works best. The truth is resume length isn't a fundamental deciding factor nor an automatic deal-breaker.

If anyone is rejecting a candidate because of a resume that's a page longer or shorter than someone else's, that person probably isn't very good at hiring. A CV is only there to provide an overview of who you are, your traits, experience and abilities and while we can do our best to structure it, we have no control over how people interpret it.

Your resume needs to speak to the industry and the people who are the decision-makers, and in some cases, one-page is all you need. If you've had trouble with your CV and want to know if a one-page resume would be a better option, then look no further.

When to use a one-page resume

The one-page resume is ideal for entry-level workers, university graduates, and those who have a few years of work experience. Those new to the working world often feel pressured to fill a CV with extra information to make up for the lack of experience but which can hurt their chances of being reviewed.

Additionally, you should consider a one-page resume if you're looking to make a career change and don't have much experience within the new career path or industry.

Hiring managers need to sort through hundreds of applications, especially in entry-level positions and ones that provide them with relevant information fast often stand out.

Pros of a one-page resume

  • A 1-page resume is clarity and ease of use
  • A single-page resume stands out
  • It's more approachable
  • Leaves information open for discussion in the interview
  • That makes it easier to find your best achievements
  • Easy to find your contact details

Cons of a one-page resume

  • It doesn't do well showcasing a full range of one's expertise & experience.
  • If you're going for a job that requires 10+ years of experience, you need to differentiate yourself from a smaller pile of applicants
  • A fleshed-out resume with achievements, experience, courses and milestones is a better option

Does a resume have to be one page?

Resumes don't have to be one page, but it usually helps in many situations during the start of your career. Unless you've got over a decade of experience, you can fit it on one page.

Remember you're advertising yourself, so leave something to the imagination. Put your best bits in that fill the space.

Cut the rest, and you can flesh that out in the interview.

The final word on resume length

In the end, the length doesn't matter quite as much as the content filling the pages. If you can capture your qualifications on one-page that's great, but if it takes two pages or more, it's not the end of the world.

Just remember: Your resume should be a high-level look at your accomplishments that entices the hiring manager to want to learn more. Once you've set up your CV, contact local recruitment agencies to help you find a suitable placement.

Are you looking to promote your business?

South African recruitment businesses can create your free business listing on nichemarket. The more information you provide about your business, the easier it will be for your customers to find you online. 

Registering with nichemarket is easy; all you will need to do is head over to our sign up form and follow the instructions. If you require a more detailed guide on how to create your profile or your listing, then we highly recommend you check out the following articles.

Recommended reading

If you enjoyed this post and have time to spare why not check out these related posts and dive deeper down the rabbit hole that is career advice.

Tags: Resume , Job Hunting

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