Let’s say that you are interviewing for a medical sales job, the hiring manager asks you for your ‘Elevator Speech,” and you answer it like this:
“Well,IwasborninPoughkeepsiein1993myfathersoldvacuumcleanersmymotherwasateacherIwenttoCatholicschoolthenhighschoolIplayedfootballgotgreatgradeswenttocollegegraduatedin2015wentotworkatXeroxmadequota,wasPresident’sClubwinner,ranked#1madethecompany$5M,wasRookieoftheYear,spentthreeyearstherewentintomedicalsalesaCookmedicalalwaysmadequota,gotgoodrecommendationsmadePresident’sClubtheretoolookingtogrowandbecomeamanagerinthenexttwoyearsandthenbecomeaVPanditisallthereonmyresume!
What do you think would happen? Your interview would end almost as quickly as your answer. You gave the hiring manager as much “information” as possible in as little amount of time as possible, and provided no depth to your background.
Using that scenario as a point of discussion, a one page resume could also be your downfall- especially when you try to cram as much information as possible in as short as space as possible. Recently I had a candidate send me his resume going back 24 years and he crammed it on one page using a six point font! I had to get a magnifying glass and still could not read it. So I threw it away.
It is not necessary to use a one page resume. By doing so, you may have eliminated vital information that could actually secure you an interview! There’s no sin in having a two page resume- despite what the “experts” say. In my 35 years of medical recruiting I have NEVER seen a candidate eliminated from contention JUST BECAUSE they sent over a two page resume. If your background merits two pages so be it! And by the way- I would like to speak to the person who delivered the 11th Commandment: “Thou Shalt Not Have A Two Page Resume!” If you know who that it, tell that person to get in contact me with me.
We will be happy to help you revise your resume. Please let us know how we can help, and your comments and questions are always welcome.
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