I have been in the job market for twenty years and I've read that resumes should be no longer than one page. Is this true?
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about resumes is that they should always be no longer than one page. It is almost impossible to capture completely a complex or lengthy work history in one page. Two pages are more than acceptable assuming the candidate has the content to justify the length. Hint: Recent college grads with no real work experience or transferable college activities should stick to one page.

I have been in the same job or with the same employer for many years. How do I make myself look marketable after so many years?
When you have been in the same job or with the same employer for many years, it's only natural to wonder how relevant your history has become. The one common theme that should run through your resume is communicating the expected benefits a new employer can expect to gain by hiring you. This means demonstrating on paper that you've held progressively more responsible work experience and focusing heavily on your accomplishments. Recognizing up front any potential "perceptual negatives" is critical. For example, twenty years at Kodak might be best expressed as "Twenty plus years in the photographic sciences field in digital imaging and office products." That's a positive spin on a potential negative.

My job ended under less-than-desirable circumstances. How do I recover and put a positive spin on it in my resume?
Putting a positive spin on a job that ended under less-than-positive circumstances can be a challenge. However, depending on the circumstances, it can be presented in a way that minimizes speculation and possible questions. Jobs that end because of a reduction in force (commonly known as a layoff or downsizing) should be addressed in the description of the position. For example, being let go because the company closed its local office could be expressed as follows: "Position eliminated in regional structuring of upstate New York sales headquarters."

Jobs that end due to a mismatch between what the employer wanted and the incumbent's performance should also be addressed in the body copy of the resume. For example, someone who just "didn't work out" should not attempt to sugar coat the outcome. People leave jobs every day and nearly all of them manage to get other jobs eventually. It's better to say "Left position to pursue opportunity more in line with career goals." It's important to account for why you changed jobs or left, lest you leave the reader to speculate (i.e. assume the worst). A carefully worded statement is far superior to allowing the reader to speculate.

I've worked in one field throughout my entire career. How do I communicate the value of those experiences when I am not likely to get another job in the same field?
This is where a little objective advice goes a long way. Transitioning from one line of work to another takes finesse in presenting transferable skills, but it can be done. Working in one industry or field used to be a badge of honor. In today's marketplace, staying too long in one field can spell career doom. This is another good example of where the job seeker needs to identify his core skills and abilities and a strong resume writer can be priceless in packaging them for prospective employers in other industries.

The banking industry comes to mind as a great example of a business where many people have had to reinvent themselves due to the consolidations and buy outs that have taken place in the industry over the years. Every time one bank acquires another, legions of back office and mid-level bank employees are tossed on the street. Most don't end up with jobs at other banks because the jobs for which they qualify simply ceased to exist with each merger, acquisition or buyout.

The only way to recover career-wise is to identify those basic skills and abilities that make you marketable and minimize the nitty-gritty of what you did all day in your banking job. Most prospective employers could care less about your knowledge of Federal Reserve Bank requirements, but might be quite interested in your knowledge of navigating federal regulatory requirements. That way, a prospective employer will be able to see some expected benefit and transferable skills by hiring you. As with politics, it frequently comes down to the spin you put on things.

Is an objective statement really that important in a resume?
Yes. An objective statement is really that important. Remember when you were in school? You learned to write a paragraph and the first thing you had to develop was a topic sentence. Think of your objective as the topic sentence for your resume. Without it, how will the reader know what you're looking for in the way of a job?

The objective statement should be written in such a way as to be somewhat generic-sounding so that most any prospective employer will see themselves in your objective. For example, a good objective statement for an accountant might read: "A financial management position enabling me to utilize my background and experience in cash flow management, financial reporting and computers." Just about any prospective employer with a job for which the candidate is qualified is likely to appreciate this objective statement. Again, a professional resume writer can be helpful in crafting the precise turn of phrase necessary.

Don't make the mistake of waxing philosophically in your objective. Too long, too flowery or too specific statements often cease to have meaning for the reader. So, leave out the "…with room for advancement," references to "growing companies" and anything else that's implicit. To date, we've never seen a resume with an objective that read "Seeking dead-end job offering little room for advancement and limited reward." Get the picture?

My education was many years ago. Should it still be listed toward the beginning of my resume?
The rule on educational background is simple. If your education is recent or relevant to what you are doing now or wish to be doing in your next career, include up front. If you have a degree in music education and you work as a computer systems analyst, put it toward the end on the second page. In this case, it's your work record that will be most important in selling you to a prospective employer, not your education.

I have had a number of different jobs over the years. I am concerned that a prospective employer may view me as a job-hopper or unstable. What can I do?
When you have had a number of different jobs in a relatively short period of time, you need to have a reason ready to explain away any possible negative interpretation. Beginning the description of each job with something like "promoted to position" or "recruited for key post" or "selected for special assignment" are good starts.

Another good way to address the issue before it causes you to lose out on interviews is to offer a brief explanation in the cover letter. Saying that you accepted a post to be closer to family or enable yourself to take advantage of better benefits or salary is generally acceptable. Additionally, work history does not have to be chronicled chronologically. You can categorize work experience under other headings like "Professional Experience," "Early Career," or "College Work Experience" to break up what can appear to be a laundry list of jobs.

My job title does not adequately capture the scope of my job. Is it okay to deviate from the given job title?
If the title your organization has chosen for you does not adequately reflect the nature of your job, by all means change it. This is actually quite common. Take the case of a job seeker who held an administrative post with a large university. Her title did not imply the importance or magnitude of her job. Changing her title to more accurately reflect her job is perfectly ethical and an effective strategy for overcoming the pigeon holing that often happens with job seekers. Just remember, always be truthful in describing duties and accomplishments.

What is the best paper to use for my resume?
White, off white or any neutral color. Skip the mauves, greens, blues and papers with interesting-looking little flecks. Remember that neutral colors photocopy and fax best.

Is an e-mail address essential on a resume?
Yes. But avoid e-mail addresses with cute-sounding names and never use your work e-mail address on your resume. In today's Internet-based job search market, your e-mail address is just as important as your home telephone number.