How Long Should a Resume Be? Why Career Returners Struggle to Let Go of the Past
When you’re coming back after a career break — whether from caregiving, health, or a layoff — writing your resume can feel overwhelming. One of the hardest conversations I have with clients is around resume length.
Most people want to include everything they’ve done. After all, you’ve built a career you’re proud of. You’ve worked hard, achieved big things, and your experience feels like proof of your value. So when I suggest keeping the resume to 1–2 pages, it’s not unusual to see resistance. Some even tell me, “But if I cut this out, I won’t look as impressive.”
Here’s the truth: a resume isn’t about documenting your whole story. It’s about showing the right parts of your story so a hiring manager can see your fit for this job right now.
Imagine being the recruiter staring at a pile of 300 resumes. Would you rather read through 6 pages of someone’s entire career history, or 2 pages that highlight exactly why they’re qualified for the role? A concise, relevant resume respects both your time and theirs — and increases your chances of landing in the “yes” pile.
So why is it so hard for career returners to trim down a resume? In my coaching, I see three common reasons:
Fear of Leaving Something Out
You may worry: What if I cut something important? But here’s the key — your resume isn’t the last time you’ll share your experience.
That’s what interviews are for.
How to overcome it:
Trust the process. A resume gets you the interview — the interview lets you tell the rest of your story.
Prioritize relevance. Pull keywords and skills straight from the job description.
Save everything else on a “master resume.” That way, you never lose track of your full history, but only highlight what matters most today.
Emotional Attachment to Achievements
When you’ve worked hard for accomplishments, it feels personal to leave them out. For career returners, it can feel especially hard — almost like letting go of your past self.
How to reframe it:
Select only the achievements that connect to your target role.
Quantify results to prove impact (numbers speak louder than lists).
Remind yourself: leaving something off doesn’t erase it. It just means you’re saving it for the right time and place.
Believing Length = Value
It’s easy to equate a longer resume with higher self-worth. But more isn’t always better. In fact, most hiring managers prefer quality over quantity.
How to shift focus:
Lead with your strongest, most recent experiences.
Showcase transferable skills if you’re pivoting careers.
Let impact, not length, demonstrate your value.
The Takeaway for Career Returners
Your resume is not your autobiography — it’s your introduction. The goal is to give employers just enough relevant information that they can’t help but want to meet you.
If you’re returning from a career pause, this might mean letting go of old experiences that no longer serve your next chapter. That doesn’t diminish your past; it simply clears the path for the future.
A focused, 1–2 page resume isn’t just easier to read — it shows confidence, clarity, and readiness for your comeback and tells the employer you understand what the job is and what skills they need the candidate to be able to do in the role. That’s exactly what employers want to see.