Resume.. I am an idiot

Question

Well, there's nothing I can do about it now. But I submitted my resume as 2 pages to schools with no limits. I searched the whole board and internet now about the standard 1 page resume and know I majorly goofed. I even had people critique it and no one said anything. In hindsight.. I feel okay because I worked on so many diverse projects so I wanted to highlight my management and strategic roles, and I also changed jobs a few times- but I know everyone has to slim it down so I should have been able to as well.

. I'm such an idiot. I hope this won't get me dinged.

Ok I am going to go crawl into a corner now.. <sigh>.

. I'm such an idiot. I hope this won't get me dinged. Ok I am going to go crawl into a corner now.. .

k88 · Answer

Hi Jlola,

Maybe you can email the schools and ask them if they can replace your resume. I know people have done this in the past when the applications had already gone in for things like recommendations, etc. Doesn't hurt to ask

Anonymous · Answer

Do you think it is that bad to warrent that? I would like to avoid doing that because it would look like I wasn't prepared. I know it isn't ideal to go past 1 page, but as a consultant it was so hard, on top of holding 3 different concurrent management positions in the past year along with my past experience, and long government agency names as clients. I don't know.. yikes I am freaking out. My resume is still succinct and to the point at least.. I am not rattling off with no purpose so to speak lol. <sigh>

isa · Answer

If the schools had no limits (ie didn't say "1 page resume"), I don't think it's the end of the world that you submitted a 2 pager. If you're really worried about it, you could try calling and asking that a more updated one be added to your app....If you have other apps to work on, I'd focus my attention on those and move on....

PS I'm a first time applicant like you so take these suggestions however you will.

PS I'm a first time applicant like you so take these suggestions however you will.

refurb · Answer

Wait! If I'm reading this correctly, you followed the rules right? You didn't send a 2 page resume to a school that specifically limited it to one page?

If so, you're blowing this way out of proportion!

Just because you can fit everything in one page doesn't magically make your resume better. I stuck to the one-page resume because I knew a few of the schools I was applying to limited it to one page. It was just easier than have two different resumes.

Considering the content would likely be very similar (if you went back and reduced it one page) I wouldn't worry about it at all.

The adcom isn't going to hold up your resume (2 pages), then another guys (1 page) and say "This is a easy decision!" and ding you right there!

I swear, the whole b-school application process really messes with peoples heads! (mine included!)

RF

Anonymous · Answer

LOL thanks everyone... I think I am just going to keep it as is. You're right, it isn't the end of the world. If an adcom's decision came down to a 1 vs 2 page resume than other aspects of my application were obviously not strong enough.

Okay I am moving on

thanks guys!

chineseburned · Answer

So, even if there are no limits imposed, you shouldn't submit a resume longer than 1 page??
Who said so? This makes no sense to me. It's like when you are looking for a job and those career consultants are advising you to stick to a 1-page resume. Absolute BS. Now that I interview candidates myself, I rarely see any decent 1-page resumes which give any even remotely clear or complete picture of the candidate's abilities or achievement.

refurb · Answer

Trust me, that's the healthiest thing. I'm having a hell of a time letting go after I submit an app. I keep thinking "may I should have said this instead!". It's almost like the stress increases after I submit an app because now I can't make any changes. On the other hand, the whole experience is helping me to develop good stress-reduction techniques (i.e. beer drinking). :drunk

RF

Anonymous · Answer

ahahaha oh my goodness, tell me about it. I am with you on the good stress-reduction techniques. It is hard to let go, and then when you realize you can't do anything about it, you ask yourself - why am I stressing, but then keep stressing about it anyway.

I feel like I haven't seen my friends in so long! At least with 4 apps in and I'm almost done with Duke's, my life will be back to normal soon!

refurb · Answer

You're lucky! I am not a very good writer and I find the whole process very taxing. I'm working on my Tuck essays for the Nov 12th R1 deadline, then will immediately start on my last two apps which are due the first week of January.

I won't be back to normal until next year!!

RF

bball · Answer

I wouldn't worry about it. HBS for example states specifically 2 page resumes are fine and I have friends that have gotten in there with 2 pagers.

msday · Answer

don't worry, i know a guy who got into H/S and MIT with a 2-page resume. it's not a big deal at all.

rhyme · Answer

Dont sweat it at all. I had a two pager. Its not a job application.

sam77sam7 · Answer

No school will ding a qualified applicant because they submitted a two-page resume. Don't sweat it!

sonibubu · Answer

I submitted mostly 2-page resumes to schools except for Wharton, which requires a 1-page resume. What others schools have this requirement?

Anonymous · Answer

For me just Duke, I believe MIT does too.

bsd_lover · Answer

LBS also specifically requires a 1 pager - which I created and tried to use everywhere. However, I dont think 2 pager is a big deal. Don't worry about it.

Resume.. I am an idiot

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