The first form of contact between you and a potential employer is your resume. It gives them something to know about you. Studies show that recruiters spend an average of just six to seven seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to continue reading or move on. If your resume is too wordy, you risk overwhelming hiring managers and burying your most important achievements in unnecessary details. So, how do you strike the right balance? Let’s break it down.
How Long Should a Resume Be?
The ideal resume length depends on your experience level, but the general rule is:
- Entry-level candidates: One page
- Mid-career professionals: One to two pages
- Executives or highly experienced professionals: Up to three pages
Research from Indeed shows that hiring managers prefer a concise, well-structured resume that highlights key qualifications rather than a lengthy document packed with excessive details. If your resume stretches beyond these limits, it might be time to trim it down.
Signs That Your Resume Is Too Wordy
Not sure if your resume is too long? Here are some common signs:
- Excessive job descriptions: If you’re writing more than five bullet points per job, you’re likely over-explaining.
- Redundant phrases: Phrases like “responsible for” or “duties included” add unnecessary length.
- Too much personal information: Avoid including details like hobbies, full addresses, or references.
- Dense paragraphs: If your resume contains large blocks of text, recruiters may struggle to scan it quickly.
- Listing every job you’ve ever had: Focus on the last 10–15 years of experience unless earlier roles are highly relevant.
How to Cut Down a Wordy Resume
If your resume is too long, here’s how to make it more concise while keeping it impactful.
1. Focus on Relevant Experience
Recruiters only care about experience that is relevant to the job you’re applying for. If a job you held 15 years ago isn’t adding value to your application, consider removing or summarizing it in a single line.
2. Cut Out Weak or Redundant Words
Avoid phrases like “worked on,” “responsible for,” or “duties included.” Instead, use strong action verbs. Compare these two statements:
- Wordy: Responsible for managing a team of five and ensuring project deadlines were met.
- Concise: Led a team of five to consistently meet project deadlines.
3. Use Bullet Points Effectively
Limit yourself to three to five bullet points per job. Prioritize achievements over job duties. Instead of saying “Handled customer complaints,” say “Resolved customer complaints, reducing escalations by 30%.”
4. Remove Unnecessary Sections
Some sections are outdated or unnecessary, including:
- Objective statements (use a summary instead)
- Full home address (city and state are enough)
- References (they can be provided upon request)
5. Be Selective About Education Details
If you’re a mid-career professional, you don’t need to include details about your GPA, coursework, or high school education. Just listing your degree and institution is enough.
6. Use Simple, Clear Formatting
Hiring managers don’t just scan resumes for content, they also look for readability. Use a clean layout, professional font (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman), and ample white space. Avoid excessive bolding, underlining, or decorative elements.
Does a Longer Resume Hurt Your Chances?
A study by ResumeGo found that recruiters were 2.3 times more likely to prefer a two-page resume over a one-page resume for experienced candidates. However, this doesn’t mean longer is always better. The key takeaway? Only extend your resume if you have valuable information to add.
Get It Right with LightResume
Trimming down your resume can be tricky since you don’t want to leave out important details, and you also don’t want to overwhelm recruiters with too much information. This is where LightResume comes in. Our smart resume builder helps you craft a compelling, ATS-friendly resume with the perfect balance of content. With expertly designed templates and AI-powered recommendations, you don’t have to worry about making it too wordy or missing key details.
Ready to create a resume that stands out? Try LightResume today and get noticed by top employers.
