I get it. Writing a resume can be a challenging and stressful experience. How do you fit an entire career’s worth of education, experience, and achievement into a single page? 

A lot of people struggle to do it. As a result, they end up creating resumes that are three, four, or even five pages long.

Having been involved in recruiting for several years, I can tell you that these lengthy resumes do not usually receive a great deal of attention from employers. Hiring managers frequently need to review dozens of resumes per day, so they just don’t have time to read a four-page document.

If you want to boost your chances of landing the job of your dreams, it is almost always better to keep your resume short and sweet.

Remember, your resume’s job is to get you an interview, not tell your life story.

In many ways, a good resume should be similar to a movie trailer. 

When movie studios create trailers, they don’t aim to explain the plot in great detail. Rather, they use a curated collection of clips to excite the audience and entice them to watch the full film.

Movie trailers aren’t excessively long, either. In some instances, they might be as short as 20 or 30 seconds. They are almost never more than three minutes long.

Not all trailers are created equal, though. The following four are among the best I’ve ever seen:

• The Shining: This trailer tells you virtually nothing about the plot. However, it does show you that you’re in for a violent thrill ride while providing you with a list of its all-star cast.

• Terminator 2: “I’ll be back” are the only words spoken in this trailer. However, if you’re a fan of the Terminator franchise, those few short words are all you need to hear to get you excited to watch the full film.

• The Social Network: The intense music, clever editing, and “You don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies” tagline leave you wanting to learn more about the creation of Facebook.

• Inception: The stunning visuals and thought-provoking dialogue in this trailer are sure to leave you in awe and get you invested in the story.

Take some time to watch these trailers. You’ll see what I mean. They all leave you with a feeling of wanting more. 

That’s exactly the sentiment you want hiring managers to have after they read your resume. You want them to feel like they have no choice but to call you to set up an interview.

Check back next week to learn more about the art of creating an enticing resume. If you would like those tips to go straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter today!

About The Author

Emily Sander is an ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience in the business world and the author of Hacking Executive Leadership. She’s been featured in several print publications, online articles, and podcasts, including CEO Today Magazine, Leading to Fulfillment, and Leadership Powered by Common Sense. 

Emily has a passion for helping business leaders reach their full potential. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach. If you want to send Emily a quick message, then visit her contact page here.