RE: Average Length of TW Resume

["walden miller" <wmiller -at- vidiom -dot- com>]

Elna Tymes [etymes -at- lts -dot- com] writes:

> The reason is that a lot of hiring managers and HR folks scan resumes,
looking
> for the buzzwords, first.  If you pass that screening, then they'll look
at the
> other stuff you've done.  And even there the buzzwords are
> generally what get their attention.

I disagree about keeping a resume to 2 pages.
I hire writers (I currently have 6 working in my department and I am hiring
4 more--a shameless plug). I see all the resumes, regardless of length.

I do believe that the first page is extremely important in that HR
departments are scanning for buzzwords (as pointed out above) like
FrameMaker, API, DreamWeaver, HTML, Help Systems, etc.  However, if you can
get past the HR scanners, a full resume is very useful in making it to the
top of the pile of potential interviews.  My resume is four pages and will
probably stay at four.

I also accept resumes via email/web sites, etc.  Length is less of a concern
for email resumes.

My only gripe with long resumes are only when they overstate the writer's
abilities or contain non-essential information (hobbies, non-tech-writing
jobs, etc.)

My only gripe with web based resumes is that some are so cutesy that you
cannot see all the information you need on one or two pages.  Instead it is
scattered over numerous pages in odd organizational patterns. This may show
off the writer's ability to manipulate web sites, but highlights their lack
of concern for audience.

From my soapbox,
Walden Miller
Technical Documentation Manager
Vidiom Systems
Boulder, Colorado