I know this topic has been long discussed, but I still get questions from applicants who are confused about this and think that submitting a 2-page CV/Resume will automatically disqualify them.
So here in this post, I just would like to share my 2 cents on this topic as Admissions Consultant and as HR Professional.
In general, a 2-page CV/Resume is good unless:
(a) The school explicitly mentions 1 page in the application requirements
(b) The 2 pages contain just fluff simply to make up to 2 pages
There is a lot of debate on the 1-page rule on both professional and MBA worlds:
- A professional CV/Resume is easier to skim through by recruiters if it is only 1 page, so in a way it does increase your chances of being called for an interview. That being said, for people with +10 years of experience, it is very common to have a 2-page CV/Resume. Rule of thumb is 1 page per every 10 years of work experience. However, in any case, no recruiter will ever discard a candidate simply because his/her CV/Resume is two pages long. In my HR experience, I have reviewed thousands (literally) of CV/Resumes, and I have never prioritized one candidate over the other just because the length of the CV/Resume.
- In the MBA world, a 2-page CV is very common. MBA CV/Resumes must portrait the applicant in a holistic way, not just professionally, this is why they tend to be longer.
My advice to all applicants is to focus on content rather than length, and make sure all three aspects of your profile are covered:
- (1) Professional Experience: start with you current or most recent full-time experience, and you can create a sub-section for any part-time experiences, internships or employment during college.
- (2) Education: you may include here any extra-curricular activities during college as well, or create a sub-section under Other.
- (3) Other: here you can be more creative. Typical sub-sections are: Personal Interests, Volunteering/Community Service, Languages, International Experience...
Once all the right content is in place, then a decision can be made to whether adjust content to 1 or 2 pages.
I hope this helps.
If you need help crafting your CV/Resume, feel free to contact us and ask for a CV/Resume Review Package.
Thank you, and good luck to everyone!
Alex
